The Sea Gull (1968)

Film adaptation of Anton Chekhov's story of life in rural Russia during the latter part of the 19th century. An aging actress Arkidana pays summer visits to her brother Sorin and son ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Anton Chekhov (play), Moura Budberg (adaptation)

Stars:

James Mason, Vanessa Redgrave, Simone Signoret

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Mason	...	Trigorin, a writer
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Nina, a landowner's daughter
Simone Signoret	...	Arkadina, an actress
David Warner	...	Konstantin Treplev, her son
Harry Andrews	...	Sorin, her brother
Denholm Elliott	...	Dorn, a doctor
Eileen Herlie	...	Polina, the bailiff's wife
Alfred Lynch	...	Medvedenko, a schoolteachter
Ronald Radd	...	Shamraev, the estate bailiff
Kathleen Widdoes	...	Masha - His Daughter

Storyline

Film adaptation of Anton Chekhov's story of life in rural Russia during the latter part of the 19th century. An aging actress Arkidana pays summer visits to her brother Sorin and son Konstantin on a country estate. On one occasion she brings with her Trigorin, a successful novelist. Nina, a free and innocent girl on a neighboring estate, falls in love with Trigorin. As Trigorin lightly consumes and rejects Nina, so the actress all her life has consumed and rejected her son, who loves Nina. The victims are destroyed, the sophisticates continue on their way.

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Plot Keywords:

actress | novelist | russia | 19th century | unrequited love | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Gaivota

Filming Locations:

Europa Studios, Sundbyberg, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sydney Lumet Productions, Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last film of Eileen Herlie.

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Connections

Version of Il gabbiano (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Waltz No.2 in B Minor, Op.69"
(uncredited)
Music by Frédéric Chopin

User Reviews

The Seagull soars gracefully.

Filled with excellent performances and moved smoothly off the stage to the outdoors Sidney Lumet's interpretation of Anton Chekov's The Seagull is an impressive transition to celluloid. Told in a languid low key with minimal but effective camera movement Lumet with patient deliberation slowly builds the play to its powerful climax without hardly ever raising its voice.

Aging prima donna Arkadina (Simone Signoret) and Trigorin (James mason) a well known writer visit the estate of her brother where her son Konstantin (David Warner) is attempting to hone his trade as a writer. Along with Nina (Vanessa Redgrave) , a neighbor he's in love with he put's on a dramatization of his work for assorted guests. Self absorbed as the family is Konstantin's work receives little attention or credit. Nina in turn falls heavy for Trigorin who is more than willing to see her on the side. Years pass and lives have changed but Konstantin struggles on with little or no interest from anyone as the group is once again brought together in the final act.

The Seagull is a lengthy melancholy piece of theater that in the wrong hands can be a drudgery to get through but Lumet moves his cast about like a skilled chess player, each and every one fleshing out their character with an intense subtlety. I hesitate to single out performers since all hit their marks perfectly but Vanessa Redgrave gives an an outstanding performance saving her best for last as the hopelessly romantic Nina while conversely Denholm Elliot as the most self aware member of the group maintains a low key despair that is every bit as effective.

There are plenty of films that employ great writers, excellent directors and superb actors that often times (Catch 22, for example) collapses under the weight of all its talent. The Seagull is a fine example of how well it works when all the pieces fit.