While, as has been said more than once, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' is my favourite Tennessee Williams play (also my first), 'The Glass Menagerie' is another one of his best and perhaps the most poignant. It is very much vintage Williams, with a compelling story that has a lot of emotion and bold themes, complex characters and realistic dialogue that hits hard (even if very talky) and a fair share of powerful scenes (he sure knew how to write hard-hitting endings.
Prior to watching this 1973 version with Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Michael Moriarty and Joanna Miles, there were two versions seen first. One was the 1987 version, which was my first filmed production of 'The Glass Menagerie'. The other was the Gertrude Lawrence and Jane Wyman film. Although the latter was a very respectable attempt despite the disappointing ending, the 1987 version is much better and of these three versions it's my favourite. This is a very worthy and really quite good production though where the detail and spirit is intact, with nothing toned down, nothing really tacked on and there isn't any re-ordering or re-working that affects any coherence (the case with the 80s TV film of 'Sweet Bird of Youth').
This production of 'The Glass Menagerie' is not perfect by all means. It is too dimly lit and makes the production a bit drab at times. Did feel that it could have opened up the drama more, the potential problem with television film adaptations of plays is being too much of a filmed play and being stagy, found that to be the case here.
In 'The Glass Menagerie', the dialogue is classic Williams. Just wished in this production that we had more time to hear it and take it all in and that the dialogue delivery wasn't as fast as it could be in places, especially with Katharine Hepburn.
However, lighting aside it is well and authentically designed and the photography isn't too intimate or distant. The audio adds to the atmosphere and doesn't jar with it. Despite the rushed line delivery at times, the dialogue may be talky but there is no denying its emotion. The staging also isn't perfect, but it's cohesive and just about avoids being over-heated and doesn't get dull. The ending like that of the play stays with you emotionally.
All four leads are hugely compelling with many moments of brilliance. Hepburn does indeed dominate but quite a lot of it is down to the character herself, she plays the heck out of the character and it's quite a towering portrayal overall regardless of some of the dialogue delivery and try-too-hard accent. Miles is very moving as Laura and pre-'Law and Order' Waterston is the embodiment of intensity. Moriarty is a different and interesting Jim and it was great to see a more likeable side.
Summing up, quite well done. 7/10
Prior to watching this 1973 version with Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Michael Moriarty and Joanna Miles, there were two versions seen first. One was the 1987 version, which was my first filmed production of 'The Glass Menagerie'. The other was the Gertrude Lawrence and Jane Wyman film. Although the latter was a very respectable attempt despite the disappointing ending, the 1987 version is much better and of these three versions it's my favourite. This is a very worthy and really quite good production though where the detail and spirit is intact, with nothing toned down, nothing really tacked on and there isn't any re-ordering or re-working that affects any coherence (the case with the 80s TV film of 'Sweet Bird of Youth').
This production of 'The Glass Menagerie' is not perfect by all means. It is too dimly lit and makes the production a bit drab at times. Did feel that it could have opened up the drama more, the potential problem with television film adaptations of plays is being too much of a filmed play and being stagy, found that to be the case here.
In 'The Glass Menagerie', the dialogue is classic Williams. Just wished in this production that we had more time to hear it and take it all in and that the dialogue delivery wasn't as fast as it could be in places, especially with Katharine Hepburn.
However, lighting aside it is well and authentically designed and the photography isn't too intimate or distant. The audio adds to the atmosphere and doesn't jar with it. Despite the rushed line delivery at times, the dialogue may be talky but there is no denying its emotion. The staging also isn't perfect, but it's cohesive and just about avoids being over-heated and doesn't get dull. The ending like that of the play stays with you emotionally.
All four leads are hugely compelling with many moments of brilliance. Hepburn does indeed dominate but quite a lot of it is down to the character herself, she plays the heck out of the character and it's quite a towering portrayal overall regardless of some of the dialogue delivery and try-too-hard accent. Miles is very moving as Laura and pre-'Law and Order' Waterston is the embodiment of intensity. Moriarty is a different and interesting Jim and it was great to see a more likeable side.
Summing up, quite well done. 7/10