The Glass Menagerie (1987)

A son longs to escape from his stifling home, where his genteel mother worries about the future prospects of his lame, shy sister.

Director:

Paul Newman

Writer:

Tennessee Williams (play)

Stars:

Joanne Woodward, John Malkovich, Karen Allen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joanne Woodward	...	Amanda Wingfield
John Malkovich	...	Tom Wingfield
Karen Allen	...	Laura Wingfield
James Naughton	...	Jim O'Connor (the gentleman caller)

Storyline

A son longs to escape from his stifling home, where his genteel mother worries about the future prospects of his lame, shy sister.

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Plot Keywords:

disillusionment | unhappy ending | figurine | fantasy world | dysfunctional family | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway stage play "The Glass Menagerie" opened at the Playhouse Theatre on Mar 31, 1945 and ran for 563 performances.

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Goofs

As Tom is speaking with Laura in one scene, every time the camera is focused on her, his arms are at his sides in the background. When the camera focuses on him, his arms are crossed. This switches back and forth for an entire scene.

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Quotes

Tom Wingfield: I'm going to the movies.
Amanda Wingfield: I don't believe that lie!
Tom Wingfield: No? Well you're right, Mother. I'm going to opium dens. Yes, mother. Opium dens. Dens of vice and criminal's hangouts, mother, I am a hired assassin, I joined the Hogan gang, I carry a tommy gun in a violin case, and I run a stream of cat houses in the valley, they call me Killer, Killer Wingfield, see I'm leading a double life, really, a simple honest warehouse worker by day, but by night a dynamic czar of the underworld, mother, I just go to ...

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Connections

Version of Glassmenasjeriet (1969)

User Reviews

Deeply moving--tops all previous film versions.

The depth of feeling manifested in the acting on display here easily trumps both the (wildly miscast)Gertrude Lawrence and the (vastly overrated) Katherine Hepburn versions of this celebrated play.

Though everyone involved (on both sides of the camera) does a first rate job, special accolades are due to Joanne Woodward, who is perhaps the first actress to really understand Amanda, since the role's originator--Laurette Taylor.

The pathos in Miss Woodward's delineation of the character is almost unbearable on some occasions, as in the famous jonquil soliloquy, in which she conveys, with hushed voice and beatific eyes, a sentimental recollection for lost time (and lost love) that is not only wholly personally convincing, but also manages to imprint her sentiment onto the audience with all the deja vu of Proust's madeleine.

Her Amanda is never less than fully persuasive.

And Mr. Malkovitch, in his final address to the camera, ("blow out your candles Laura") achieves effects of the same high order, with emotions so confiding, intimate, and genuine that he leaves viewers of any sensitivity as heartbroken as he is.

All told a devastating achievement not to be missed by admirers of Mr. Williams.

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1987 (France)

Also Known As:

The Glass Menagerie

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$895,904

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$895,904

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex Odeon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1