If you're watching this on DVD or streaming it and you fall asleep or just get distracted, you may be tempted to go back to see what you missed, and trust me, you don't want to have to do that. This film can send you into severe depression as you hear the voices and view the schizophrenia in Deborah (Kathleen Quinlan),a young woman sent into a women's mental institution for treatment after she has a severe breakdown. There, she witnesses the mistreatment of patients, is a victim of violence by other patients and eventually becomes exactly like them.

Psychiatrist Bibi Andersson tries to get to the source of Deborah's problems, and you wonder if she knows what's going on with the orderlies. One in particular is very violent, striking patients across the chase while trying to take their pulse. The patients will break into song and dance at one moment and attack another violently at another, that is when they're not trying to kiss other patients against their will. Through the growing friendships with certain patients, Deborah starts to come out of her shell, particularly thanks to an older woman, a former geometry teacher, played by the legendary Sylvia Sidney who of course commands every moment that she is on screen..

There's also Susan Tyrell who will break into song and dance (joined at one point by Nancy Parsons of "Porky's" fame) and a variety of other types of patience, having different reactions to the things going on around them. There are no two alike, and the situation becomes very scary at times. Deborah has definition voices, and those voices are very scary and threatening and powerful and manipulating. The visuals that go along with those voices are just as frightening as well. It comes a monster movie of another sort, and not the type that you're used to seeing in a Roger Corman movie.

The stars of this film are Quinlan and the script, but the pace is sometimes frustrating and the subject matter is extremely disturbing. Quinlan is excellent, and it's a shame that she did not go on to bigger things after this. She's worked a lot since this but the promise that was shown as a rising star in the mid-70's didn't move her down the path along with the rising dramatic actresses. Andersson is very subtle in her performance, and her appearance makes me want to see her Swedish language films (many directed by Ingmar Bergman) where she seemed to be second choice to former co-star and real-life friend Liv Ullman.

My overall thought about this film based upon its general synopsis is seemingly depressing, but at times, the patients do make you laugh, and it's not in a way that you should feel guilty about. The things that they say and do are just funny because they are honest and not hiding their general feelings. But it is a serious subject, and fortunately, there is no snake pit or rubber room or seeming straitjackets although some of the patients are belted to their beds which is just as bad. 1977 was a terrific year for leading actresses, and Quinlan is certainly on the short list for deserving actors who didn't get an Oscar nomination.

Right after "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" offered a scathing look at mental institutions, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" offered a similar sort of look. Portraying young Deborah Blake (Kathleen Quinlan) getting put in one and experiencing the unpleasant things there while Dr. Fried (Bibi Andersson) tries to help her, the movie makes you feel like there's a knife in your stomach. Certainly this institution is not any place where you're likely to become sane. But Deborah has to make her way through no matter what.

There are some pretty disturbing scenes here, and they do a very good job with it. As a director, Roger Corman may be known for camp, but as executive producer here, he cooperated on a well done flick. Also starring Lorraine Gary (Roy Scheider's wife in "Jaws"),Sylvia Sidney (the "Mars Attacks!" grandmother) and a fairly young Dennis Quaid and Clint Howard.

Kathleen Quinlan portrays Deborah Blake, a teenager taken to a mental hospital after a suicide attempt. While she moves in and out of reality - she has a very rich fantasy life - her dedicated psychiatrist, Dr. Fried (Bibi Andersson),tries to reach her.

"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" earns some points for being so brutally straightforward about what it does. Director Anthony Page obviously tries to be as realistic as possible in portraying the day to day lives of women with severe mental issues. It's easy to see why some people would consider it disturbing. It's fairly powerful stuff.

A lot of credit goes to the actresses. Although, unfortunately, we don't really get to know any of these characters that well, the ladies all leave an impression. Young Quinlan delivers a performance of incredible maturity. Rather than creating a traditional, sort of artificial performance as a "crazy" person, she feels completely authentic, as do her co-stars. Susan Tyrrell, Signe Hasso, Sylvia Sidney, and Nancy Parsons all do creditable work.

Lots of other familiar faces turn up in roles big and small: Ben Piazza and Lorraine Gary as Deborahs' parents, Reni Santoni as a cruel orderly, and Norman Alden, Dennis Quaid, Robert Viharo, Diane Varsi, Lynne Marie Stewart, Clint Howard, Jeff Conaway, and Richard Herd as well.

One criticism this viewer had was that things seemed to get wrapped a little too quickly and neatly as Deborah finds her salvation. Still, it is a relief to get a respite from the oppressive hospital environment in the films' closing minutes.

So, while not all that satisfying, this is still a decent and well intentioned production with some sobering moments. It really stands out from other New World product of the time.

Seven out of 10.