THE SEA GULL
US, 1968, 121 minutes, Colour.
James Mason, Vanessa Redgrave, Simone Signoret, David Warner, Harry Andrews, Denholm Elliott, Eileen Herlie, Alfred Lynch, Kathleen Widdoes, Ronald Radd.
Directed by Sidney Lumet.
This is a 1960s version of Anton Chekhov’s play. It has quite an eclectic cast, principally British actors. Simone Signoret stands out she’s one different, some audiences finding her accent difficult to understand.
Chekhov’s Russian world is quite enclosed. The period is 1904, a summer on an estate in the countryside, family members and others present, enclosed, rather bored. In some senses, it indicates that a revolution is needed.
With the range of characters, there are many aspects of focusing, a display of the many characters and their tangled relationships. At the centre is the ageing actress, Irina, and her ailing brother, played by Harry Andrews. She also has her lover, the author, played by James Mason. The next generation is represented by the actress’s son, David Warner, a temperamental person, playwright, disdain for the traditions, depressed and suicidal. He is attracted to a neighbour, Nina, Vanessa Redgrave, who wants to be an actress but is also intrigued by the author. In the meantime, the daughter of the maid, Masha (Kathleen Widdoes) is infatuated with the actress’s son but has to make do in practical terms with the local teacher. The resident doctor, Denholm Elliott, is present with his ability to listen and offer advice.
The film was directed by Sidney Lumet, celebrated American director with a wide range of experience in television years to 12 Angry Men, to film versions of Long Day’s Journey into Night as well as Equus. It was also noted for police and crime thrillers, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon.
Chekhov’s play was remade in 2018.
1. The work of Anton Chekhov? Theatrical, style? The focus on many characters, their interactions? Characters on display?
2. An international interpretation, cast, accents, style?
3. Hurrying to the country, the ill brother? The summer?
4. The range of characters, many, changing focus, the relationships and the tangles?
5. The theatre, a theatrical film? Critique of the theatre and theatrical types? Irina, her performances? Relationship with Konstantin, his writing the play, Nina and her performance? The musical score?
6. Sorin, his character, ill and dying, the family gathering?
7. The summer, the house, the grounds, the countryside and the forest, the lake, the views?
8. Irina, her age, her career, her husband, lovers, the tension of her relationship with her son, her performances, performing in real life, narcissistic, chatter, her performance during her son’s play, spurning him? The comparison with Nina? Her relationship with the doctor? The dependence on Polina? Polina’s husband, defying her? Her relationship with Trigorin, the age difference, her power over him? The concern about clothes, appearance, vanity? Kostya shooting himself, her concern? Belittling Nina? Wanting to possess Trigorin, manipulating him?
9. Trigorin, celebrated writer, succeeding and failing notes, observing? His relationship with Irina, not talking about himself? Kostya and his jealousy? The attraction to Nina, the infatuation, Irina controlling him against Nina? Revealed as callow? Kostya, Nina acting in his play, the words in her delivery, people’s reactions afterwards? Meeting Trigorin, amazed, infatuation, falling in love, talking with him? Her decision to act? Going off, her performances, failures, her return?
10. Konstantin, young, temperament, his moods, love for Nina, the play, her performance, calling it off, upset, going off by himself, deriding contemporary culture, wanting elevated culture? Masha and her devotion to him? Shooting himself, his writing the stories, Nina, her return? Shooting himself?
11. Masha, the teacher and his infatuation and devotion, her rejection? The decision about marrying the teacher, her treatment of him? The relationship to her mother and father?
12. The teacher, concerned about money, the difficulties in teaching, his infatuation with Masha? Presence in the house, marrying her?
13. The doctor, the past, his help, observing, counselling?
14. Polina, the household, her husband? Her relationship with her daughter? Her infatuation the with the doctor, wanting to be with him?
15. The place of the servants, the ironic comments and expressions?
16. Sorin, his lack of achievement in his life, not writing, not marrying? The law, sad for over 10 years, advising others?
17. A society that was rich, bored – and a preview to the Russian Revolution.
