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Providence

  • 19771977
  • RR
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Providence (1977)
  • Drama
A dying writer bases his last book on his own perception of his family.A dying writer bases his last book on his own perception of his family.A dying writer bases his last book on his own perception of his family.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alain Resnais
  • Writer
    • David Mercer
  • Stars
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Ellen Burstyn
    • John Gielgud
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alain Resnais
  • Writer
    • David Mercer
  • Stars
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Ellen Burstyn
    • John Gielgud
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 11 wins & 2 nominations

    Photos25

    John Gielgud in Providence (1977)
    Ellen Burstyn in Providence (1977)
    John Gielgud, Ellen Burstyn, David Warner, and Dirk Bogarde in Providence (1977)
    Dirk Bogarde and Elaine Stritch in Providence (1977)
    Dirk Bogarde in Providence (1977)
    David Warner, David Mercer, and Alain Resnais in Providence (1977)
    Providence (1977)
    Providence (1977)
    Providence (1977)
    Providence (1977)
    Providence (1977)
    Providence (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dirk Bogarde
    Dirk Bogarde
    • Claude Langhamas Claude Langham
    Ellen Burstyn
    Ellen Burstyn
    • Sonia Langhamas Sonia Langham
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Clive Langhamas Clive Langham
    David Warner
    David Warner
    • Kevin Langhamas Kevin Langham…
    Elaine Stritch
    Elaine Stritch
    • Helen Wieneras Helen Wiener
    Cyril Luckham
    Cyril Luckham
    • Doctor Mark Eddingtonas Doctor Mark Eddington
    Denis Lawson
    Denis Lawson
    • Dave Woodfordas Dave Woodford
    • (as Dennis Lawson)
    Kathryn Leigh Scott
    Kathryn Leigh Scott
    • Miss Boonas Miss Boon
    Milo Sperber
    Milo Sperber
    • Mr. Jenneras Mr. Jenner
    Anna Wing
    • Karenas Karen
    Peter Arne
    Peter Arne
    • Nilsas Nils
    Tanya Lopert
    Tanya Lopert
    • Miss Listeras Miss Lister
    Joseph Pittoors
    • An Old Manas An Old Man
    Samson Fainsilber
    Samson Fainsilber
    • The Old Manas The Old Man
    • Director
      • Alain Resnais
    • Writer
      • David Mercer
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Clive Langham (Sir John Gielgud) spends one tormenting night in his bed suffering from health problems and thinking up a story based on his relatives. He is a bitter man and he shows, through flashbacks, how spiteful, conniving and treacherous his family is. But is this how they really are or is it his own vindictive slant on things? —Archie Moore <ar.moore@student.qut.edu.au>
    • white wine
    • artistic creation
    • alternate reality
    • 360 degree pan
    • bed
    • 38 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A Movie of Rare Intelligence
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir John Gielgud, who spent most of his career on the stage, considered this movie and the television mini-series Brideshead Revisited (1981) to be his only two screen appearances of which he was genuinely proud.
    • Quotes

      Clive Langham: Don't you think to have only one bastard after sixty years of action is almost tantamount to self denial?

    • Crazy credits
      The National Philharmonic Orchestra is misspelled as National Philarmonic Orchestra in the opening credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #7.4 (1994)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    A hilarious trip
    This is one of the strangest movies I know. French intellectual aesthete meets contemporary British playwright - this should be the title of Providence. When two completely different cultures meet for a common project, the risk of failure is enormous. But in this case something interestingly and uniquely hilarious was created. Providence is a feverish dream that was successfully created for the screen.

    The dream sequences of an old, dying writer, played by John Gielgud are absurd in a very British way. John Gielguds's upper class "king's English" voice-over adds effectively to its strangeness. As usual in contemporary British plays, sex and bowel movements are of the utmost importance . no, the script as a whole is neither very original nor particularly funny. I liked the incongruous, illogical situations though. Every now and then, in the most impossible situations, a strange, sickly looking football player (he seems to have fallen off Monty Python's Flying Circus) jogs limply past.

    Director Alain Resnais is responsible for the dreamscapes, and they make Providence worth watching. Real settings are artfully distorted into haunting, surreal spatial sequences. Foreground and background, light and darkness, different textures and beautiful color arrangements are expertly arranged into a world of its own that is never too far from reality. One is sometimes reminded of Magritte's surrealistic paintings. Strange sounds add to the almost psychedelic effect the dream scenes have.

    The acting is remarkable, especially Dirk Bogarde as the writer's slick, cynical «dream son» gives an outstanding performance.
    helpful•23
    3
    • manuel-pestalozzi
    • Apr 10, 2003

    FAQ1

    • What then young and still brilliant musical theater composer was slated to write the score for "Providence," but declined at the last minute?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1977 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Switzerland
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ödets hand
    • Filming locations
      • Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France
    • Production companies
      • Action Films
      • Société Française de Production (SFP)
      • France 3
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1(original ratio)

    Related news

    The Always Outrageous Elaine Stritch Is Dead
    Jul 17Moviefone
    Alain Resnais' "Life of Riley": The Mole's Gaze
    Jun 17MUBI

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