The Subject Was Roses (1968)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ulu Grosbard

Writer:

Frank D. Gilroy (play)

Release Date:

12 February 1970 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

"Deeply moving film!"

Plot:

When Timmy Cleary (Sheen), comes home from soldiering, he's greeted by the open but strained arms of his two parents...

Plot Keywords:

Rose | Argument | Father Son Relationship | Bickering | Lake

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Patricia Neal	...	Nettie Cleary
Jack Albertson	...	John Cleary
Martin Sheen	...	Timmy Cleary
Don Saxon	...	The Master of Ceremonies
Elaine Williams	...	The Woman in Club
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grant Gordon	...	The Man in Club (uncredited)

Directed by
Ulu Grosbard

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Frank D. Gilroy		play

Produced by
Edgar Lansbury	....	producer
Kenneth Utt	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Lee Pockriss

Cinematography by
Jack Priestley

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg

Art Direction by
George Jenkins

Set Decoration by
John Godfrey

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Mike Maggi	....	makeup artist

Production Companies

• Delos Productions Inc.
• Edgar Lansbury Productions Inc.
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• T.D.J. Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

USA:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PA (Ontario) | USA:G

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Delos Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Martin Sheen and Jack Albertson reprised their roles (Timothy Cleary and John Cleary) in this film after previously playing the characters in the stage version on Broadway.

Quotes:

John Cleary: Joy, joy, said Mrs. Malloy.

Movie Connections:

References Gilda (1946)

Soundtrack:

Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

Flowery with unnatural prose, but worth a look for the acting...

Frank Gilroy adapted his Broadway triumph for the screen, apparently freezing every original line and action into place until the results nearly resemble an assembly-line production. Jack Albertson won a Supporting Actor Oscar for recreating his stage role of sad, anxious father welcoming son Martin Sheen home from the war after three years. Talky, melodramatic, but superbly-acted family reunion featuring lovely Patricia Neal as Sheen's mother (her first role after recuperating from a series of strokes). Gilroy's dialogue doesn't always flow naturally, and some of the give-and-take is puzzling and/or awkward (something a looser direction might have avoided), but the characters are interesting and the film is involving and occasionally moving. **1/2 from ****