The Glass Menagerie (1973)

Amanda Wingfield dominates her children with her faded gentility and exaggerated tales of her Southern belle past. Her son plans escape; her daughter withdraws into a dream world. When a "... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Harvey

Writers:

Stewart Stern (screenplay), Tennessee Williams (play)

Stars:

Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Katharine Hepburn	...	Amanda Wingfield
Sam Waterston	...	Tom Wingfield
Joanna Miles	...	Laura Wingfield
Michael Moriarty	...	Jim O'Connor

Storyline

Amanda Wingfield dominates her children with her faded gentility and exaggerated tales of her Southern belle past. Her son plans escape; her daughter withdraws into a dream world. When a "gentleman caller" appears, things move to crisis point.

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Plot Keywords:

southern belle | mother daughter relationship | male female relationship | family relationships | brother sister relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norton Simon Inc.,Talent Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the late 40s director George Cukor considered filming the play with Hepburn as Laura, Laurette Taylor as Amanda and Spencer Tracy as "The gentleman Caller."

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Quotes

Jim O'Connor: Someone ought to kiss you, Laura.

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Connections

Version of Die Glasmenagerie (1969)

User Reviews

Incredible acting

The Glass Menagerie is my favorite play, solely because I love the 1973 taped and televised Broadway performance. I haven't seen any other version, but after watching this cast, there's no need to.

Katharine Hepburn stars as faded Southern belle who mothers and smothers her two children, Sam Waterston and Joanna Miles. Sam is passionate and dying to break out of his stifling environment, but he's protective over his crippled sister and is conflicted about leaving her alone with their mother. If you're a fan of his because of Law & Order, you need to see his stint on Broadway so you can see the first time he delivered a powerful, passionate speech. It's incredible, unnerving, and heartbreaking every time he goes head-to-head with Katharine Hepburn.

Kate had already starred as the overbearing mother in another Tennessee Williams play, Suddenly, Last Summer, but she shines even brighter in this one. Unlike the 1959 film, her character in The Glass Menagerie is sane and accessible. If you're a parent, your heart will go out to her as she tries to look out for her daughter, but Sam Waterston is the real hero of the story. He's wonderful and energetic from start to finish. I guarantee you'll become a lifelong fan of his after watching his breakthrough performance.