Stephen Farber

“Some people may call The Turning Point a soap opera, simply because they don't know how else to describe a movie about women and the moments of crisis in their lives…. If it had subtitles, it would certainly be acclaimed as a classic, for it has the depth of feeling and the uncompromising integrity that we expect to see in European films, but not in Hollywood products….

“…. Laurents has populated the movie with a rich gallery of characters, some of whom are necessarily drawn in broader strokes than others, but all of whom register as individuals.... The Turning Point overflows with an abundance of life that movies have denied us lately. Laurents's dialogue is notable for its wit, conciseness and eloquence. The long, perfectly modulated fight scene between Emma and Deedee crackles with some of the best writing ever to grace the screen.

“Laurents could not have asked for a finer company of actors to deliver his dialogue. Anne Bancroft has only had a few movie roles worthy of her talents; she seizes this rare opportunity, and she's magnificent. She looks more stunning than ever, and she runs a complete gamut of emotions, from bitchy repartee to controlled fury to transcendent warmth to tragic anguish. An actress has to be brave or foolhardy to play against Anne Bancroft, and yet Shirley MacLaine manages to hold her own….”

Stephen Farber, The New West, November 21, 1977