The sorrowful solitary lives of Amanda Wingfield and her children come to life in this 1973 adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie. At times the dismal St. Louis apartment of the Wingfield family seems more like a theatrical stage than a movie set. There is a very intimate quality about this drama that stays very true to Williams' original play script.
Amanda Wingfield (Katharine Hepburn) has never recovered from being abandoned by her husband and has created a life for her children and herself that centers on her past as a southern belle. Her daughter, Laura (Joanna Miles), lives in her own world of glass animals and old records, while her son, Tom (Sam Waterston), dreams of escaping from Amanda and his mundane life. Amanda's greatest desire is for Laura to marry. She coerces Tom into bringing a suitor home for Laura from his job at the warehouse. Jim O'Connor (Michael Moriarty) brings Laura to life when he comes to dinner. But Laura's happiness is only for a moment and we find that not everyone's story ends happily.
Under the direction of Anthony Harvey, Katherine Hepburn gives an amazing performance as an aging southern belle who hasn't lost her thick southern accent or the memories from her youth. Joanne Miles plays the shy, introverted Laura with subtle grace that captivates her audience. She also uses a southern accent to portray her character. Sam Waterston's character, Tom, has no trace of any southern roots and has a view of life that differs from his family's views. He flawlessly goes from being gentle and patient with his sister to annoyed and angry at the demands of his mother. Michael Moriarty's vibrant portrayal of Jim breathes life and hope into the drama. Moriarty's enthusiastic and expressive mannerisms rival those of Hepburn's.
The costumes of Amanda and Laura greatly contrast those of Tom and Jim's. The women wear old-fashioned style dresses, while the men look more contemporary in their suits. Harvey also uses the lighting differently among the characters. Tom is set into darkened backgrounds, whereas, Laura's character is lit by an almost-angelic light. "In Memory everything seems to happen to music," Tom tells the audience and the melancholy music, an original score by John Barry, blends perfectly with the scenery and characters.
The Glass Menagerie is a well-written, well-acted and well-directed drama that leaves its audience bit reflective and sad. In the words of Amanda Wingfield, " . . . the past turns into everlasting regret if you don't plan for it!"
Amanda Wingfield (Katharine Hepburn) has never recovered from being abandoned by her husband and has created a life for her children and herself that centers on her past as a southern belle. Her daughter, Laura (Joanna Miles), lives in her own world of glass animals and old records, while her son, Tom (Sam Waterston), dreams of escaping from Amanda and his mundane life. Amanda's greatest desire is for Laura to marry. She coerces Tom into bringing a suitor home for Laura from his job at the warehouse. Jim O'Connor (Michael Moriarty) brings Laura to life when he comes to dinner. But Laura's happiness is only for a moment and we find that not everyone's story ends happily.
Under the direction of Anthony Harvey, Katherine Hepburn gives an amazing performance as an aging southern belle who hasn't lost her thick southern accent or the memories from her youth. Joanne Miles plays the shy, introverted Laura with subtle grace that captivates her audience. She also uses a southern accent to portray her character. Sam Waterston's character, Tom, has no trace of any southern roots and has a view of life that differs from his family's views. He flawlessly goes from being gentle and patient with his sister to annoyed and angry at the demands of his mother. Michael Moriarty's vibrant portrayal of Jim breathes life and hope into the drama. Moriarty's enthusiastic and expressive mannerisms rival those of Hepburn's.
The costumes of Amanda and Laura greatly contrast those of Tom and Jim's. The women wear old-fashioned style dresses, while the men look more contemporary in their suits. Harvey also uses the lighting differently among the characters. Tom is set into darkened backgrounds, whereas, Laura's character is lit by an almost-angelic light. "In Memory everything seems to happen to music," Tom tells the audience and the melancholy music, an original score by John Barry, blends perfectly with the scenery and characters.
The Glass Menagerie is a well-written, well-acted and well-directed drama that leaves its audience bit reflective and sad. In the words of Amanda Wingfield, " . . . the past turns into everlasting regret if you don't plan for it!"