Much has been said about the famous actors in this movie, and they are all wonderful. I would just like to add that the bit players are great too. Don't take for granted the old man in the wheelchair, the poet played by character actor Cyril Delevanti. Earlier, his character hardly speaks. He seems more like a prop, accenting some of the dialog between Deborah Kerr and Richard Burton. But as the film progresses, we hear snatches of his poetry. His words provide an unrealized and unappreciated commentary. When Delevanti as the old poet, Mr. Nonno, finally gets to recite his complete poem, he reveals that he isn't just an eccentric. When he recites the verse near the end, it is one of the great moments in theater (and in this film.) After all that has gone before, all the turmoil and love/hate relationships, his insightful words brought tears to my eyes. How wonderful a literary slight-of-hand that allowed Tennessee Williams to smoothly insert a poet, and thus poetry into this drama. Many other dramatic things happen up front in this film, but Delevanti's eventual performance is also terrific as well as profound, don't miss it.
Review of The Night of the Iguana
