"Tempest" is supposed to be an adaptation of the William Shakespeare play, "The Tempest". I'm not familiar with that play so my comments will be based on the movie modernization.
Philip Dimitrius (John Cassavetes) is a successful architect who is fed up with his life and work. He is married to Antonia (Gena Rowlands) and the marriage is in trouble. Philip works for industrialist Alonzo (Vittorio Gassman) . He abruptly quits his job and goes with his daughter Miranda (Molly Ringwald) to Greece where he meets young Aretha Tomalin (Susan Sarandon). They go to a remote island where they are greeted by goatherd Kalibanos (Raul Julia) who lives in a cave, and set up shop.
Philip is supposed to have Miranda only for the summer. When the summer vacation period ends, Antonia, who has been taken unto Alonzo, wants Miranda back. So they set out on a luxury cruise to find Philip and Miranda. That's basically it.
The movie is a zig zag sort of film moving back and forth between the present and the time where Philip leaves, when he finds Aretha and a visit with his father (Paul Stewart). The cast breaks into song at various times making little sense especially at the end party. I never was a fan of Cassavetes method acting style and this film is no exception. He's moody and a little eccentric throughout. Poor Raul Julia is a buffoon here as the Greek goatherd. Susan Sarandon is gorgeous in the prime of her youth. Sam Robards plays Ringwald's love interest as the son of Alonzo. Alonzo's entourage, Trinc the comedian (Jackie Gayle), Harry (Jerry Hardin) and Dr. Sebastian (Anthony Holland) are along strictly as comic relief. Director Paul Mazursky and his wife Betsy play the Bloomfields at a party in Philip and Antonia's apartment.
The ending is pure Hollywood with everyone living happily ever after. The movie is overlong at 140 minutes and I found myself praying for it to end.
Philip Dimitrius (John Cassavetes) is a successful architect who is fed up with his life and work. He is married to Antonia (Gena Rowlands) and the marriage is in trouble. Philip works for industrialist Alonzo (Vittorio Gassman) . He abruptly quits his job and goes with his daughter Miranda (Molly Ringwald) to Greece where he meets young Aretha Tomalin (Susan Sarandon). They go to a remote island where they are greeted by goatherd Kalibanos (Raul Julia) who lives in a cave, and set up shop.
Philip is supposed to have Miranda only for the summer. When the summer vacation period ends, Antonia, who has been taken unto Alonzo, wants Miranda back. So they set out on a luxury cruise to find Philip and Miranda. That's basically it.
The movie is a zig zag sort of film moving back and forth between the present and the time where Philip leaves, when he finds Aretha and a visit with his father (Paul Stewart). The cast breaks into song at various times making little sense especially at the end party. I never was a fan of Cassavetes method acting style and this film is no exception. He's moody and a little eccentric throughout. Poor Raul Julia is a buffoon here as the Greek goatherd. Susan Sarandon is gorgeous in the prime of her youth. Sam Robards plays Ringwald's love interest as the son of Alonzo. Alonzo's entourage, Trinc the comedian (Jackie Gayle), Harry (Jerry Hardin) and Dr. Sebastian (Anthony Holland) are along strictly as comic relief. Director Paul Mazursky and his wife Betsy play the Bloomfields at a party in Philip and Antonia's apartment.
The ending is pure Hollywood with everyone living happily ever after. The movie is overlong at 140 minutes and I found myself praying for it to end.