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IMDbPro

Mourning Becomes Electra

  • 19471947
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
Drama
Eugene O'Neill's updated version of the Oresteia set in New England, after the American Civil War.Eugene O'Neill's updated version of the Oresteia set in New England, after the American Civil War.Eugene O'Neill's updated version of the Oresteia set in New England, after the American Civil War.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Dudley Nichols
  • Writers
    • Eugene O'Neill(play)
    • Dudley Nichols(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rosalind Russell
    • Michael Redgrave
    • Raymond Massey
  • Director
    • Dudley Nichols
  • Writers
    • Eugene O'Neill(play)
    • Dudley Nichols(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rosalind Russell
    • Michael Redgrave
    • Raymond Massey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos

    Katina Paxinou, Michael Redgrave, and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
    Kirk Douglas, Michael Redgrave, and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
    Michael Redgrave and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
    Add photo

    Top cast

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    Rosalind Russell
    Rosalind Russell
    • Lavinia Mannon
    Michael Redgrave
    Michael Redgrave
    • Orin Mannon
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Ezra Mannon
    Katina Paxinou
    Katina Paxinou
    • Christine Mannon
    Leo Genn
    Leo Genn
    • Adam Brant
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Peter Niles
    Nancy Coleman
    Nancy Coleman
    • Hazel Niles
    Henry Hull
    Henry Hull
    • Seth Beckwith
    Sara Allgood
    Sara Allgood
    • Landlady
    Thurston Hall
    Thurston Hall
    • Dr. Blake
    Walter Baldwin
    Walter Baldwin
    • Amos Ames
    Elisabeth Risdon
    Elisabeth Risdon
    • Mrs. Hills
    Erskine Sanford
    Erskine Sanford
    • Josiah Borden
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • Abner Small
    Lee Baker
    Lee Baker
    • Reverend Hills
    Tito Vuolo
    Tito Vuolo
    • Joe Silva
    Emma Dunn
    Emma Dunn
    • Mrs. Borden
    Nora Cecil
    Nora Cecil
    • Louisa Ames
    • Director
      • Dudley Nichols
    • Writers
      • Eugene O'Neill(play)
      • Dudley Nichols(screenplay) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Eugene O'Neill liked Writer, Producer, and Director Dudley Nichols' adaptation of "The Long Voyage Home" so much that he allowed him to film "Mourning Becomes Electra". O'Neill and The Theater Guild agreed to defer payment until the movie made a profit.
    • Goofs
      While Adam Brandt stands by the bench where Lavinia is seated, he holds his hat by his side and then drops it on the ground. Instead of hastily picking it up and putting it on the bench next to him as he sits down, he seems to forget about it and leaves it on the ground after sitting down to talk to her.
    • Quotes

      Orin Mannon: You folks at home take death so solemnly. You have to learn to mock or go crazy.

    • Alternate versions
      This is (unfortunately) usually shown on television in a heavily cut 105-minute version. The 159-minute UK version can sometimes be seen on Turner Classic Movies.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Vaikea vakoilija (1948)
    • Soundtracks
      Oh Shenandoah
      (uncredited)

      Traditional sea chantey

      Sung over credits and throughout film by unidentified male chorus

    User reviews44

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Rosalind owed a favor
    Miscast, stagnant version of something that's heavy going to begin with. Redgrave is good as Orin the haunted son. Rosalind tries but is just the wrong actress for the part, ideally it should have been Katharine Hepburn or Olivia de Havilland. She owed Dudley Nichols a favor for adapting and directing the story of Sister Kenny, a dream project for her and this was his but could only get it made with her participation, she even admitted that she was wrong for it but felt a sense of loyalty and went forward. Katina Paxinou gives an overblown operatic performance in a part that would have fit Garbo perfectly. The play is really too complex for a standard film version, the extended PBS production in the late 70s with Joan Hackett and Roberta Maxwell got it right but that one clocks in at just under five hours.
    helpful•8
    2
    • jjnxn-1
    • Apr 30, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 19, 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Theatre Guild
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $2,342,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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