Eccentricities of a Nightingale (16 Jun. 1976)

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writer:

Tennessee Williams (play)

Stars:

Blythe Danner, Frank Langella, Tim O'Connor

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Blythe Danner	...	Alma Winemiller
Frank Langella	...	John Buchanan
Tim O'Connor	...	Rev. Winemiller
Louise Latham	...	Mrs. Winemiller
Neva Patterson	...	Mrs. Buchanan
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tobias Anderson	...	(as Tobias Andersen)
Lois Foraker
Lew Horn
Priscilla Morrill
Marianne Stone
Carl Weintraub

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

filmed play | based on play

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 1976 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Actors Theatre of Louisville, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally broadcast on Great Performances.

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Connections

Version of BBC Play of the Month: Summer and Smoke (1972)

User Reviews

Not To Be Missed

After completing "Summer & Smoke," Tennessee Williams revised the play again while in Italy and the result is a rather different piece that he preferred over "Smoke." But the latter was already in rehearsal and then became a hit. "Eccentricities" didn't get a Broadway production until the 1970's, with Betsy Palmer.

This TV version with Blythe Danner - who is superb - is one of the new Broadway Theater Archive videos/DVDs that is truly worth buying. I saw the film version of "Summer and Smoke" with Geraldine Page, but even given the differences between that play and this one, Danner's Alma is more fascinating and moving. It's one of the very best pieces of acting by one of America's most underappreciated actresses. Her laying bare of her soul and defenses as she asks the doctor to take her to a hotel so she can experience love just once is masterfully done.

Frank Langella is scarcely less good as the young doctor who is the subject of Alma's romantic obsession. Neva Patterson as the smug, manipulative mother of the doctor and Louise Latham as Alma's neurotic (mad?) mother are strong as well.

Film and TV adaptations of Williams' work (and the work itself) are variable. But "Eccentricities" can easily take it's place among the best of them.