Customer Reviews

Long Day's Journey Into Night

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am delighted to be able to add this to my DVD collection. This production of the play is easily the finest ever put on film or tape, infinitely superior to that rather tired film with Katherine Hepburn and Ralph Richardson. This was taped in the studio after a famed production of the play was a major success at England's National Theatre.

Olivier's James Tyrone is indelible, the only actor I have ever seen to make the character a real living person rather than a hard-hearted tyrant. Olivier's performance is heart breaking, one of the most beautiful and moving performances I've ever seen. His James Tyrone manages to be achingly human and sad at all times, without ever once sugar-coating the character's less admirable qualities. That the same can be said of Constance Cummings as Mary Tyrone, and Denis Quilley and Ronald Pickup as Jamie and Edmund is a tribute to an overall magnificent cast.

A more than worthy addition to anyone's DVD library, and vital viewing for anyone interested in watching a great performance of a great play.

All in all, this is a great feast of acting for those willing to sit still and watch it with the attention it deserves. It doesn't get better than this.

I prefer the Katharine Hepburn version overall but this one I will
buy just for the magnificence of Constance Cummings. Olivier got
an Emmy and huzzahs at the time but I don't really believe his
James Tyrone. But Cummings is Mary Tyrone. Just watching her
in her closeups as the morphine-addicted mother, haunted by her
past. There have been some wonderful Mary Tyrones recently.
Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Lange were fabulous too. But each
one had a little different interpretation and all are valid I
think. But Cummings is right up there with the best. I still hope
someone puts her shattering portrayal in WINGS on video. It deserves to be preserved too.

For those of you who are thrilled to pieces to have found that this brilliant work will be released on DVD, I might have some bad news for you. I took the liberty to e-mail the President of the studio which is producing this DVD, and he informed me that the version is one from 1973 starring Laurence Olivier. And while Olivier was no slouch as an actor, I think most people will continue to view the 1962 film version to be the superior production. However you feel about it, I thought it would be nice to know what product you are considering. I hope it helps.

This was the first production of Long Days Journey Into Night that I saw. It changed my life, I was a high school student at the time, and I was blown away by the power of the play. The following year I was able to go to both London and New York and began a now 30 year love affair with the Theatre. For me, Denis Quilley and Ronald Pickup have been the Jaime and Edmund that everyone else must measure up to. This production was legendary, and deservedly so. A must for any O'Neill student.

Sir Laurence Olivier is magnificent in this version of the O'Neill family drama. Produced for television and shot on video tape.

I'm a high school AP English teacher, and I bought both the Peter Wood and Sidney Lumet versions of Long Day's Journey into Night, and while Lumet's version isn't totally satisfying, I find it far superior to Wood's version. I'm amazed, in fact, that anyone would recommend this version. Olivier is very good as James Tyrone, but the other actors give weak performances, and the camerawork lacks any creativity. Katharine Hepburn and Jason Robards are excellent in the Lumet version, and there are numerous interesting staging and cinematic choices.

Eugene O'neills compelling play Long Days Journey Into Night reflects the struggle between man and his fate. Though lacking the action packjed climax we find in todays movies. Lo9ng Days journey Into NIght focuses on capturing the complexity of the Characters problems and struggles. This film uses incredible photography and camera angles to express an individuals state of mind. At some points throughout this film it lost its ability to engage an audience , as a live play would, however the parts that did caprture the audience left one questioning ones own fate and the upward struggle we all face. Overall this film was captivating and truely posesses the essence of O'Neill. Very Good, Captivating film.

Long Days Journey Into Night was the classic struggle about man battling with his fate. I thought the movie was alright, but not really my kind of flick. For drama lovers it would probably be a little better. It lacked any real action or entertainment from my point of view, but kept my interest somewhat. The acting was very good, however the plot was very depressing and sad, it's not a very uplifting movie whatsoever.

After viewing this movie, I thought that it was exactly like any other movie I've viewed in school, boring. While many critics may argue that this was a great piece of art by O'neill, I found it to be three hours of mediocre drama. This is not to say that this film didn't have its interesting parts though. I thought the actors did a wonderful job depicting the lives of the family members and i felt as though this really added to the quality of the movie. Overall I give this movie 3 stars because It was rather boring but it did have its high spots.