Strange Interlude (1988) (TV)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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)

Unexpectedly, very interesting.

This is a very interesting film about how even though people try to do the best thing for themselves and for others around them by using the available information, the result may be unexpected due to the unknowns. Nina loses her fiancee Gordon in WWI, without ever being together with him. She decides to become a nurse, to commit her life to injured soldiers, and thereby to Gordon. Her father, uncle Charlie, a doctor at the hospital all want the best for her, and give advices to her to make her happy in the long run. However, the advices they give her bring her lots of dilemmas and put her into unforeseen positions. I enjoyed this piece overall. It became somewhat boring towards the end. The characters' thoughts are expressed by making them talk to themselves, and sometimes this may become confusing and irritating. (There are points where it is difficult to differentiate whether someone is talking to oneself, or with others). Still, even though I rented this one from the library without any expectations, enjoyed it very much. I should also mention that Kenneth Branagh's screen time is about 3 minutes, and at the end of the movie.