Gloria (1979 / 1980 / 1981)
C. – 123m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: One Summer Night
Writer – Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, Buck Henry, Julie Carmen, Tom Noonan, Ray Baker, John Finnegan and Lawrence Tierney.
After the death of his father, a young boy is taken on the lam through New York City by a woman who is in possession of a book that the mob wants. While the film is hardly Cassavetes’ best work, it is still interesting to watch. Rowlands and the cast are in fine form. It is worth watching because of them, if for no other reason. Remade in 1999 by Sidney Lumet with Sharon Stone, Cathy Moriarty, George C. Scott, Mike Starr and Bobby Cannavale.
Rated: [PG]
Available on DVD & Digital Copy
Love Streams (1984)
C. – 141m. / 122m. (VHS)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen.
Dir.: John Cassavetes. Writers: Terry Allen & John Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Diahnne Abbott, Seymour Cassel, Margaret Abbott and John Finnegan.
Two estranged siblings who are wounded and emotionally connected reunite. This was originally a failed stage production. Cassavetes kept the original writer, Terry Allen, so busy with rewrites that he quit after a certain point. Cassavetes then mounted a stage production of it. After Cassavetes outlived his, “six months to live,” diagnosis, he mounted this film version of the play he had put on. Rather than a play that ran all day, it became this shortened version. A masterfully done film that should be viewed at it’s 141 minute full running length rather than the 122 minute heavily edited VHS copy in the USA. For those who love seeing Cassavetes’ work, this will not disappoint. Do note however that it is not a fast moving film and therefore takes a while to develop the characters and plot. Once it gets going though, it is strong and rich in performances and cinematography. Sadly the final Masterful film made by Cassavetes. He only made one more film after this as a director before his death at age 59 on February 3, 1989.
Trivia: John Voight was originally slated to play Robert Harmon as he did in the play, but left the film due to scheduling conflicts and, “creative differences,” with John Cassavetes. This was the final film teaming of real life husband and wife John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands while Cassavetes was alive. A film he had written, She’s So Lovely (She’s De-Lovely (1997)) was made with Rowlands after Cassavetes’ death. And finally: Due to John Cassavetes’ poor health Peter Bogdanovich directed a few scenes.
Rated: [PG–13]
Out Of Print on VHS but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy through The Criterion Collection.
Big Trouble (1986)
C. – 93m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Beverly D’Angelo, Charles Durning, Paul Dooley, Richard Libertini and John Finnegan.
Insurance agents plot with their client to kill her nutty husband. Semi–amusing comedy has much of the same talent from The In–Laws (1979) but lacks the spunk of that film until near the end of the picture. Largely however this is another remake of the Billy Wilder classic, Double Indemnity (1944). Double Indemnity was remade for the first time in 1973 under the same title, then there was this version in 1986, and it was remade again as Double Jeopardy (1999), with Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley Judd. Your mileage for this film may vary, depending on your acceptance of the characters as portrayed by the actors and Cassavetes work as a director.
Trivia: When Universal sold the rights for a Double Indemnity (1944) remake to Columbia Pictures, they in turn got the rights to Back To The Future (1985). John Cassavetes replaced Andrew Bergman as director of this film. And this film turned out to be Cassavetes’ final picture before his death at age 59 on February 3, 1989.
Rated: [R]
Available on DVD & Digital Copy.