That happens sometimes, when they hype up a big star in a film, but they only have what's basically a cameo. Though I guess Brooke Shields wasn't huge at the time.

I know, exactly I was so disappointed and not satisfied with how much she is in this film. she should have been in it at least 15 minutes more than she was.
we barely know her character because they dont' tell you that much at all about her character and her character barely says anything so when she gets killed although you feel such great sympathy and depression and anguish and remorse over her dying because she is so innocent and pure and sweet, you would have felt so much more remorse, depression, anguish, sympathy, and despair if you had known her character more than you did.
also I was really disappointed and unsatisfied seeing Brooke barely, barley at all in this film because I wanted to see her so much more than I did because I love her and because I love her as an actress and because I loved her character and also I really, extremely didn't want her to die when she was killed because her character was so innocent, lovely, sweet, and kind, and beautiful as a person.
also I really, really wanted to see her more in this film because she is without a doubt the most beautiful little girl, 12 years old or younger that I have ever seen. OH MY GOSH!!! OH MY GOSH!!! I was so astounded and devastated by her unseen at her age and unequaled at her age beauty. I dont' care who at her age or younger who you compare her beauty, prettiness, or adorableness to she beats them all. Elizabeth taylor, diane lane, or anyone other girl all pale in comparison to her.

She was too young for the part. She is barely in the film, sure, but her part in the film was what gave it publicity when it was re-released.

it's too bad, she a better actress.. she should have played the surviving sister.

and that is exactly the reason why I said that is wrong how they advertised her as being one main stars in this film. that is false advertising. she is in it for no longer than 15 minutes. I hate this kind of film marketing. and it's surprising as back in the '70s they didnt' do this kind of false advertising that often for movies. she is on one of the covers for the video boxes or her name is on the cover for one of the video boxes, this is wrong.

exactly. it is extremely effective in jarring and disturbing your emotions and making you feel so horrible trauma and despair and remorse when people are killed or hurt. I have almost never been so deeply depressed, affected, and disturbed and hurt emotionally by a person getting killed in movie as I was when Karen is killed by her sister
AND WHEN HER MOTHER FINDS OUT IN THE CHURCH!!! it was the most heart wrenching, gut punching, horrible moment of emotional distress and sadness and despair and emotional trauma and remorse that I have ever seen in a movie. my heart was in knots.
I have never experienced a scene of discomfort and emotional sadness where I actually am unnerved and extremely emotionally disturbed like it before. it was more painful and emotionally damaging and emotionally effective of a scene of emotional trauma, turmoil, physical distress, and depression and distress and remorse than any other scene in movie history.

I saw it years ago so I DVRd it.
Still a very disturbing movie for many reasons.

All TCM did was advertise that she was in it. Nothing was said about a big part.

but the problem with this theory is that this was made before Brooke was known. it was made in 1976, so before pretty baby. so why would they advertise her being in it back in 1976 or 1977?

same here. I finally watched it on TCM a couple weeks ago after wanting to watch it for about 15 years. and boy it definitely wasn't overrated. it lived up to it's hype and was even better than it's hype.
man, for movies that are hyped up a lot and are given a great reputation, how often do these movies out perform and are better than this hype? I mean my expectations were met and more. it impressed me more than what my expectations were. it over performed my expectations. I would say that for films with this level of hype and reputation or more that there are less than 10% of these movies that outplay and are better than their high reputation and expectations.

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I saw it too, and it was my first time seeing it. It's been years since I've been wanting to watch it, and I finally got a chance. I thought it was good.

Yes, I just watched it on TCM.

That's all part of the advertising. Everyone else is unknown, so you market the one audiences know. It's the same reason
He Knows You're Alone
drops Tom Hanks' name every chance it gets even though his part is tiny. By the way, did you watch this on TCM last night?

Well it's advertised that she has a big part in the movie, when she's only in it for fifteen minutes at most. She's a very minor part in it.

It was her first film.