Customer Reviews

Subject Was Roses [VHS]

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

 

 

This movie features Jack Albertson and Patricia Neal in brilliant portrayals of middle aged parents trying to cope with the realities of their own dysfunctional family. Sheen is also superb as an unwilling part of this messed up family. This is a must see for adults who like thoughtful, memorable plays!!!

The Subject was Roses is a lengthy play written by Frank D. Gilroy and it has won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for five Tony Awards. The 1964 production received two Tony Awards, one for Best Play and Best Actor (Jack Albertson). Martin Sheen also starred in the stage production with Albertson.

And now, writer Gilroy has also adapted the screenplay. The film was made in 1968 with Patricia Neal as Nettie Cleary, Jack Albertson as John Cleary and Martin Sheen as Timmy Cleary. The time is 1946, setting in New York. Middle-age parents John and Nettie have just received their son Timmy home from the war. He has been gone 3 years now and he soon discovers coming home is the same as before he left, in the middle of the marital discord of his parents.

Most of the first hour of the film, we see this pretense, a façade as John and Timmy reunite at home, sharing some memories, laughing. But soon, there is a shift in mannerism and mood, as we see the real attitude John has about his son, the veteran. John missed out on some opportunities in life, missed the service, etc., and he also has a history of infidelity that rocks the marriage thus meshed into a cold distant relationship with Nettie.

Most people will never read the dramatic play. They will have seen or heard of Subject was Roses for the first time through this film. If you see the film, note that just before the first hour, it may not seem like much to you, but give it time, as the first hour shows us the coming together, tension, uneasiness, some fun, etc.

It is later that the mood changes, and we learn so much about the characters. Very little has been changed from the original play, and many times the scenes are very similar to the original play, which is what I prefer to see, the actual stage production, but this did not stray far from it. Characters are perfect in their roles.

If you enjoy this film, read the play The Subject Was Roses.... Rizzo

The movie has good, witty, occasionally " from left field" dialog. I'm from Spring Lake and enjoy a brief "walk" down memory lane when Patricia Neal visited the Monmouth hotel.

This is a moving film starring a very young Martin Sheen. Set at the end of WW2 Sheen comes home an older and wiser man. How he and his mom and dad adjust to his return is very well told. Some excellent soundtrack music is more than matched by excellent dialogue and some wonderful photography.

Director: Ulu Grosbard
Format: Color
Studio: Warner Studios
Video Release Date: May 30, 1996

Martin Sheen, Jack Albertson and Patricia Neal star in this film, with few other supporting cast members.

Sheen is a returning army corporal following the Second World War. Jack Albertson plays his father, a harsh, dictatorial man who is inclined to lay down the law in the household. His mother, Patricia Neal, is his long-suffering wife who manages to get her licks in. A dysfunctional family, to say the least.

The young soldier manages to sort things out in the end. It is not, really, a surprise ending: rather as happy an ending as might be expected under the circumstances.

They all played their parts well. Probably Albertson played his character best, although Neal was excellent as well. So was Sheen, to be fair. Patricia Neal was recovering from an illness when she made the movie, and Sheen was concerned about her health during a dance scene, but he said she did better than he had expected, and in fact had a hard time letting him lead.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

I had been looking for a long time for "The Subject Was Roses" on VHS or CD. I was excited to find a copy on Amazon and ordered it right away. When it arrived I was very disapointed to find it had been crushed a long the way. I wrote the seller but haven't ever heard back.