I miss the 1970s. When production value and broadcasting allowed for quiet pause and contemplation. Today the world moves much too fast for comprehension. From the instant gratification of social media and its dumbing down comforts of instant gratification. Newcomers under 40s have no idea what they missed.
I get it. And thank you. It's quite nice to read a comment that's simply nostalgic without laying waste to new art, music, etc. Though I'm their age and beyond, I mean those who transmit the equivalent of, well Luddites. (Albeit ones who have no qualms using technology that enables them to complain at warp speed.) Here's to irony. And, because they suddenly popped into my head, here's to the scent of violets, the sound of old trains, hand fans and pinwheels just for the sparkling non-electric joy of it. Paz y luz ✨️
In those days TV was still in it's infancy and was highly influenced by theatre. These early TV shows do have a live theatrical quality to them. TV now is completely it's own medium. I do love the dramatic sense of these old shows but there's been some amazing TV made in the last years as well.
@Super Amanda Malcom McDowell was really good in Time After Time (1979) a movie I discovered about a year ago. Alan Bates is a good actor too, he was great in The Rose (1979).
Harold Pinter has the gift of presenting the emptiness and pretence of human importance in speech and actions in so many varieties of forms. Indeed, it seems that our present civilization with a claim to high evolution, remains much in the control of childish men proud of wealth and professional status, merely a collection of people, rather than of unique personal individuation.
+tacman1974 I've always wanted to see a good stage production of this film. A very similar film/play is titled "The Shadowbox" and I've seen the great film with Joann Woodward and Christopher Plummer and several stage adaptations of it...and I suggest this film to you since you like this film here. ...And this film here is an excellent teleplay by these excellent actors here in this film who are also known for their great stage work.
In this dramatic classic masterpiece, the 4 actors make up a perfect square of acting genius,but it all goes back to Mr Pinter's theatrical writing in which the language captivates the listener more than the events acted out .Such a nice chance to see some of the greatest actors in British theatre ,TV and film.
The most powerful (and uncomfortable) part of this play was how the power (and menace) of each character fluctuated throughout; incredible to think tension can be created and maintained this way
I've re-watched this many times since finding it a couple of years back. The wife of the clothing shop owner is the least realized in this but maybe she was meant to be. I think the absolute best part of this was when Olivier dives in off screen but his voice heard like a jump cut and saves Malcolm from probably getting killed because it really looked like Bates was going there but he was just giddy over the fact that he could easily toy with Malcolm. Olivier's monologue about Malcolm being from the wrong side of the tracks and therefore can't help but cause trouble and comparing him to a slug has a real vicious sting to it. The way Olivier went back and forth from hating and feeling sorry for Malcolm simultaneously was some really amazing acting. Just from his monologue in this scene, I get why Olivier gets so much love. Can never get enough of Malcolm's big shiny eyes!
I'm usually acutely attentive to every word of Harold Pinter's and grateful that he makes no attempt to soothe me, to reassure me. We humans are so generous with the complex misunderstandings we have, i.e. lies we tell ourselves. I am grateful for all the works of Harold Pinter and his Collection.
I came of age in these years so remember them fondly, minus the harsher events of those times. Like any other era, it was good and bad mixed, but I have to say the language still had some elegance when it came to most literature and theater and people, for the most part, behaved a trifle more civilized for lack of a better descriptor. Certainly not this Brave New World.
Pinter is for sophisticated, intelligent people. Others will not like him, not enough violence, action, or understand what he is doing. I hate to sound so prissy, but it is true.
@@brucerobbins3584 Wow, there's plenty of violence. It's all psychological, though. All the microaggressions of "polite" talk. Really love this play. Superb performances.
So many revealed, spoken and unspoken thoughts, vulnerabilities and emotions. What a marvellous cast to show us them all. Cruelty, control, provocation and domination are central motivations. The baton of power gets passed from character to character at different times. I thoroughly enjoyed it although feel Bates' character's concession in the final scene was totally incongruous.
He was looking to Helen Mirren's character to draw a line under the wretched episode, but she wasn't willing to bring closure: out of spite, duplicity, connivance, vulnerability, pride? - The vicious cycle continues. Irresolution seems an apt conclusion.
The thing about Pinter is he used to write all his best lines on the bus. Either he overheard them or he made them up himself. I know this for a fact because I used to cut his hair. When he wasn’t looking...
This was actually shown on CBS. Can you even imagine that today? At the time Olivier said this was "the most beautiful" piece he'd ever been involved with. A TV production professor I knew used it in his classes; he'd introduce it by saying "I don't know how to define great acting, but here's some."
10/2023:Most interesting. I've always thought that Helen is lovely. This is the youngest that I have seen her I think. I first saw Malcolm in Clockwork Orange, the nite before I entered the USAF back in 1972. One of my favourite movies of all time. Very Good Acting by all. Thank You for posting this excellent play. Something new for me to enjoy. Best Regards.
What an absolutely amazing cast and great playwright/play, just wish the direction was a bit better. But wow, what a brilliant cast - Olivier, Mirren, Bates, McDowell, all together! Superb!
Last few lines: "we just talked about it... For two hours... Did nothing". That was this play! "You didn't do anything did you?". Right! I've spent an entire hour watching superb acting about... NOTHING.
Unfortunately the times gave changed uncontrollably and much of our true heritage has been lost. Glad to see these find actors and the cream of British plays
there's a little Pinter in Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The language games, the torture. "I'll bet you're a wow at parties." "I wouldn't say I'm a wow."
@@dafunkfiend. The Caretaker was awful! I did watch it all the way through but only because it’s a classic, so I thought I ought to see it at least once, from an educational point of view.
What an absolute treat! Can’t believe I didn’t discover your upload sooner. Haven’t seen this for donkey’s years and, once more, found myself utterly delighted by such excellent performances, direction and writing. Thank you so much for sharing this with us all 😊❤.
Clever? I got bored out of my mind listening to the ping pong exchange imagining these upper crust snobs trying to 'out quip' each other on a rainy afternoon in an English manor. People with very average IQs trying so hard to be 'clever'. This exchange is FAR from intelligent!
@Parsley1000: Yep, no one smirks quite like MM, makes you feel inferior with one haughty look, casually utters insults with a smile and posh accent! He often looks mildly disgusted, as if he has smelled something nasty at a cocktail party, but is too polite to make a comment. Always liked his acting, not necessarily every movie, though. Yes, l mean the very steamy one. 😳🥺
... this one was part of "Laurence Olivier Presents" television anthology series made by Granada Television which ran from 1976 to 1978.... and you can't find it mentioned at IMDB...
Slum Slug - first I'm going to use this. Second--I can't believe how many comments got this wrong--he didn't say snail. He said slug. SLUm SLUg. That's what makes it good. You slum slugs.
Thanks so much for putting this up. I saw this on the Beeb when it aired the first time in the 70s and have been obsessed with the play ever since. I know most of it by heart. Astonishing cast. Amazed at the amount of people here who don’t seem to like it. Maybe not enough guns or explosions for them. Too bad.
By heart?Quite an achievement: the drama and also you learning most if it. I have a daughter who does that when she watches a film again again... she repeats every line. Do you have any favourite lines?
@@bingola45 Wouldn't say it's peak Olivier, Bates, Mirren or McDowell, but as a short piece it works well. Malc especially, & Mirren at peak allure (FWIW), possibly
I love this. I love the part where Bill answers the phone and after confirming it's him Jimmy says "are you in?" Well duh! He answered the phone. Lol!!!! And those close ups on Malcolm, very very good.
