The most excruciating thing I've ever WATCHED! - Long Day's Journey Into Night (1963) Discussion

[–] Eightythreeyearoldguy 13 years ago

I imagine that the only ones your comment will discourage from seeing this film are those who wouldn't go for it anyway.

Life, every now and then, behaves as though it had seen too many bad movies

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[–] Jamal-Nazreddin 12 years ago

You're right, rodharding. The text needs to be cut and cut again. This is a filmed stage play- a very old stage play.

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[–] preppy-3 12 years ago

True--it should but cut but if they had done that people would start screaming about censorship and "destroying" the original work. They had no other choice but to be faithful. BTW there IS an edited version of this that runs about 40 minutes shorter.

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[–] WarpedRecord 8 years ago

It is indeed excruciating, but around the end of the second hour, I gave up my resistance and settled in for the very long haul. My main problem isn't the length, but the overacting on everyone's part but Dean Stockwell. I'm glad I saw this, but I don't think I'll ever revisit this film again. 7/10 stars from me.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

Yes, it's very stagey --- everyone one is overwrought, except indeed for Stockwell who is very good.

Hepburn is actually terrific in her quiet, haunted moments. But when she's off the rails, as she is for most of the picture, you just want to stick a hypodermic in her.

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

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[–] WarpedRecord 8 years ago

So how does Hepburn's performance compare to a person actually strung out on morphine? I would think the role would call for her to be out of it, not over the top.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

I don't disagree. And there is a scene or two after she has self-medicated when she indeed becomes out-of-it and relaxed, having just had a "hit".

But most of the movie, she's presumably in withdrawal and wanting a fix.

So her histrionic tone makes sense to a point, but the film doesn't sufficiently modulate the performance (or that of the other actors, for that matter) so Kate becomes merely irritating and mostly one-note, except for the occasional quiet and introspective moment, which are her best achievements in the picture.

Stockwell is the only one who doesn't seem to be trying to impress us with artificial intensity.

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

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[–] WarpedRecord 8 years ago

Well, I will say Ms. Hepburn certainly commands the screen here, but it does feel like she's playing to the cheap seats. That often seems to be the case for plays adapted to the big screen – or is it scream?

I credit Dean Stockwell for helping me care about this tragic family with his naturalistic and nuanced style. The scene with his father about two-thirds into the film is very valuable. It's also the one where the word "morphine" first appears.

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[–] mls4182 7 years ago

Well said. I almost turned to heroin addiction from watching it.

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[–] maxman-5 8 years ago

Good word: excruciating. I watched a little, then a little more, etc. and couldn't believe how BAD this is. Had to give up. I'd have to be medicated to continue watching.

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[–] Gov_William_J_LePetomane 8 years ago

Try watching It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. It's just as long and twice as painful.

 HARUMPH!

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