Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writer:

Penelope Gilliatt (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 September 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It's about three decent people. They will break your heart.

Plot:

Divorced working woman Alex and well-to-do Jewish family doctor Daniel Hirsh share not only the same...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Jewish | Artist | Marijuana | Rain

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Peter Finch	...	Dr. Daniel Hirsh
Glenda Jackson	...	Alex Greville
Murray Head	...	Bob Elkin
Peggy Ashcroft	...	Mrs. Greville
Tony Britton	...	George Harding
Maurice Denham	...	Mr. Greville
Bessie Love	...	Telephone Operator
Vivian Pickles	...	Alva Hodson
Frank Windsor	...	Bill Hodson
Thomas Baptiste	...	Prof. Johns
Richard Pearson	...	Middle-aged Patient
June Brown	...	Female Patient
Hannah Norbert	...	Daniel's Mother
Harold Goldblatt	...	Daniel's Father
Marie Burke	...	Aunt Astrid

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | France:-16 | West Germany:18 | Australia:R | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hampstead Heath, Hampstead, London, England, UK

Company:

Vectia

Trivia:

Ian Bannen was fired from the role of Daniel Hirsh shortly after filming began. Apparently, he was so nervous about what kissing another actor on screen might do to his career, he could not concentrate enough to even get going with the part. He later said that losing the role set back his career.

Quotes:

Timothy: Blecch!
Alex: Serves you right for pinching my breakfast.
Timothy: Not *your* breakfast! Papa paid for it!
Bob: Well, there's socialism for you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "That '70s Show: Sunday, Bloody Sunday (#1.10)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (On Wings of Song)

One of the truly great adult films of the century

I first saw this at 17 in 1971 and was of course struck by the frankness in the portrayal of the relationship between Murray Head and Peter Finch. People in the suburban audience where I saw it SCREAMED when the two men first kissed. (Someone screamed at a director's screening of the film, much to Schlesinger's consternation. It turned out to be Finch's wife.) One of the reviewers complained about Head's acting, but he is playing a very shallow character whose youth and beauty attract Glenda Jackson and Finch. The film holds up really well today with its complex characters and lack of stereotypes and simple judgments about people. There is also enormous charm and humor in the film, especially in the supporting players. The imagery in the film stays with me--the dog killed by a car, the Mummy's milk in the fridge, the inner workings of telephone switching, driving through the rain in London, men and women making love, precocious children smoking dope, and so much more. It feels like life. It also made me a lifelong fan of Finch, who went on to win a posthumous Oscar for "Network," and Jackson, a two-time Oscar winner, who represents Hampstead in Parliament now. Probably my favorite film of all time.