MovieChat Forums > The Sea Gull Discussion > The ever versatile Sidney Lumet

The ever versatile Sidney Lumet

posted 19 years ago by DC1977
5 replies | jump to latest

This is a good adaptation of Chekhov considering the material is so unsuited to the big screen.

David Warner was fantastic and its a shame that he has done so many poor films when you can obviously see how talented he is.

There were two things that confused me a little.

Firstly, the casting of Simone Signoret, who is good in this but her French accent is totally out of place.

Secondly, when is this adaptation meant to be based? At one point Arkadina (Signoret) talks about the work she has done on TV!!

[–] richais 17 years ago

There are so many good actors in this; I'm very sad it is not available anywhere (DVD or VHS). You are SO lucky to have seen it...

Check my DVD collection :
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=richais

[–] trinidadca 17 years ago

Does anyone know where I can find a copy of Lumet's The Seagull? Best, A

[–] Mainemermaid 16 years ago

Did you have any luck finding a copy of Lumet's Seagull? Please let me know. I'm desperate to find one!

[–] Mainemermaid 16 years ago

Lumet's film of Chekhov's The Sea Gull, filmed in 27 days -- following 10 days of rehearsals, germinated as a movie project in 1965, when Miss Signoret, Mason and Warner were filming Lumet’s The Deadly Affair. They were probably sitting around discussing their ideal roles...

Warner's best work has been on-stage, according to many fans, very notably Hamlet and Henry VI. I have recently watched Straw Dogs and Tom Jones; he was great in both.

[–] lastmidnite2 12 years ago

What she actually says is "I'm always on the qui vive", which means I'm always alert and on the go. Many people think it sounds like "I'm always on the TV"! So Arkadina was not acting on television in 19th century Russia!