Heartbreak House (19 May 1977)

Director:

Cedric Messina

Writer:

George Bernard Shaw

Stars:

John Gielgud, Siân Phillips, Barbara Murray

Cast

Episode cast overview:
John Gielgud	...	Captain Shotover
Siân Phillips	...	Hesione Hushabye
Barbara Murray	...	Lady Utterword
Daniel Massey	...	Hector Hushabye
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Ellie Dunn
David Waller	...	Mangan
Donald Pickering	...	Randall Utterword
Richard Pearson	...	Mazzini Dunn
Barry Jackson	...	Burglar
Joyce Grant	...	Nurse Guinness

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 1977 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Great Performances: Heartbreak House (1985)

User Reviews

One of Shaw's worst and badly done to boot!

This is a 1977 BBC version of an awfully dated and rather boorish piece. The production is shoddy at times, with actors fluffing lines and the boom shadow clearly visible etc.

It actually has a rather fine cast, but even the likes of Gielgud, Daniel Massey and Sian Phillips look all at sea with the self-indulgent waffle they have to deliver here.

There are some good lines, where the famed Shavian wit survives, but overall, I found the entire enterprise a tedious bore.

For good examples of Shaw's work I heartily recommend the film versions of Major Barbara and Pygmalion. Both feature Wendy Hiller - the best exponent of Shaw.