Customer Reviews

The Gin Game by D.L. Coburn

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Winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize, the Best Production Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actress for Jessica Tandy, and the L.A. Drama Critics Circle acting awards for both Tandy and her husband Hume Cronyn, this play was a winner from the day it opened. Written by D. L. Coburn, it focuses on two elderly residents of an old-age home as they come to terms with each other and themselves.

Initially, Fonsia Dorsey (Jessica Tandy) appears to be genteel and reserved, a woman who is offended by any hint of profanity, a perfect lady whose consignment to this welfare home is the source of her sorrow. Weller Martin (Hume Cronyn) is a tougher sort, a failed businessman who now keeps himself busy playing cards. Both characters maintain their dignity by avoiding the other residents of the home, "a warehouse for the intellectually and emotionally dead."

Quickly learning to play gin, Fonsia meets with Weller to play over the course of two weeks. Gradually, they reveal their pasts, hiding their failures and their tragedies within protective stories which preserve their images of themselves. As Fonsia repeatedly wins at cards, Weller, in frustration, begins to pick away at her cover, forcing her to look at herself realistically. She, in turn, begins to taunt him, making him confront his failures, and a violent argument ensues.

Tandy plays Fonsia as vulnerable but also manipulative. Cronyn is gruffer and more defensive. As Tandy tries not to gloat about winning and Cronyn tries (only slightly) to hide his frustration, their card games become episodes of psychological warfare, and the gin game becomes the game of life, with both players trying to determine whether winning is a matter of luck, Divine Intervention, or personal skill.

Tandy and Cronyn are perfect foils, using visual humor, gestures, sidelong glances, signs of discomfort, and all the other nonverbal signals that many elderly people have developed to perfection. As Cronyn slaps down a card that he is sure is a winner and Tandy tentatively reveals a better card, the humor reaches its height, and when Cronyn taunts her and Tandy finally responds by using the F-word, the dramatic irony reaches its peak.

Powerful, realistic, and filled with an ironic humor which sets the play's poignant messages into sharp relief, this video, an actual live performance, conveys the excitement of a great Broadway play starring the greatest of actors in one of the best and most satisfying productions ever mounted. Mary Whipple

I saw The Gin Game with Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn years ago on TV. I loved it. It was perfection. I taped it and then lost the tape, so this is a happy day for me. I have been searching for years. The other production with Mary Tyler Moore and Dick van Dyke just missed the boat. It lacked the finesse and pathos so witty and moving in the Tandy and Cronyn version. When I read that it was to be done with MTM and DvD I thought,"This is going to be awful". I was not disappointed. They even made changes that just begs the question, "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" They shouldn't have. Those of you who purchase this one will not regret it.

I saw this play many years ago and the tape I purchased, is as I remembered sitting in the theater Such a wonderful showcase for these actors. I shall never see the likes of them again. I highly recommend this to all.

I was very satisfied with the item appreciated the free gift and I recieved the merchandise in a very timely fashion. Good experience.

Delivery of this item was quick. The quality of the video was a bit dark but overall good.