Strange Interlude (1988) (TV)

Director:

Herbert Wise

Writers:

Robert Enders (writer)
Eugene O'Neill (play)

Release Date:

18 January 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In this experimental play, first produced in 1928, Eugene O'Neill bares the inner souls of his characters...

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Pulitzer Prize Source | Based On Play | Based On Novel

Cast

Kenneth Branagh	...	Gordon Evans
David Dukes	...	Dr. Ned Darrell
Julie Eccles	...	Madeline Arnold
José Ferrer	...	Professor Leeds
Rosemary Harris	...	Mrs. Amos Evans
Ken Howard	...	Sam Evans
Glenda Jackson	...	Nina Leeds
Elizabeth Kelly	...	Mary
Edward Petherbridge	...	Charles Marsden
Jadrien Steele	...	Gordon Aged 11

Runtime:

USA:253 min | UK:95 min (3 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Bowden Productions Limited

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Strange Interlude" by opened on January 30, 1928 at the John Golden Theatre and ran for 426 performances. This film production is based upon a revival that opened February 21, 1985 at the Nederlander Theatre and ran for 63 performances. Glenda Jackson was nominated for the 1985 Tony Award for Actress in a Drama that revival and recreated her role in this filmed production as did Edward Petherbridge. The original Broadway production opened on 30 January 1928 at the John Golden Theatre and had 426 performances. The play won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1928.

Movie Connections:

Version of Strange Interlude (1932)

Fascinating experimental work

This is one of Eugene O'Neill's most fascinating plays, and must have packed a real wallop when it was first staged (as a two-part work) in 1928. O'Neill has the characters speak their inner thoughts as well as their dialog. Unlike the other reviewer, I had little trouble distinguishing the two. But it might have been worthwhile to explain it in a prologue for viewers not aware of what O'Neill was doing in this play.

This TV version contains an almost complete rendering of this very long play, which is seldom staged nowadays. So this may be your only chance to see it in something like its original form. The cast is uniformly superb. Glenda Jackson seems a bit old for Nina at first, until you realize that the play covers around 30 years and that she will be an old woman by the end. The late David Dukes is particularly good as Nina's "sperm donor." In all, engrossing and unique drama. I hope it will come out on DVD soon.