The American Film Theatre: Collection Two

Between 1973-1975, the American Film Theatre, under the guiding hand of Ely Landau, produced 14 films adapted from plays--directed by luminaries such as John Frankenheimer, Harold Pinter, and Tony Richardson, and starring such acclaimed thespians as Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Olivier, and Fredric March, who all worked for a pittance of their regular salaries--that were shown in selected theaters to members who had purchased annual subscriptions. Although briefly released on video in 1978, these films have been largely unavailable in any format for the past quarter century. The five films in The American Film Theatre: Collection Two are a motley crew indeed that, with one exception, focus on the dramatically fertile theme of strained family relations. The supposed jewel in the crown, Harold Pinter's The Homecoming (1973, directed by Peter Hall), is a black comedy about a dysfunctional all-male household that is thrown into a psychological tizzy by the return of the prodigal son (and, more importantly, his wife). Although highly acclaimed, the film struck me as tedious in its Beckett-lite posturing, though I have to admit that Paul Rogers is wonderful as the spittle-flying, vitriolic, misogynist head of house. Much better, in my opinion, is David Storey's In Celebration (1975, directed by Lindsay Anderson), in which three sons (Brian Cox, Alan Bates, and James Bolam) return home to fete their working-class father and mother's 40th wedding anniversary, a celebration overshadowed by remembrances of an earlier tragedy. As for the last three titles, Three Sisters (1970, directed by Laurence Olivier), is a solid rendering of Chekhov's classic tale, with solid performances from Joan Plowright as Masha (one of the long-suffering exiled Russian siblings), and Alan Bates as a military officer who catches her desperate eye (unfortunately, this is also the least technically accomplished of all, with very flat low-level sound); A Delicate Balance (1973, directed by Tony Richardson), is a fine adaptation of Edward Albee's caustic look at an already volatile family dynamic (husband, wife, alcoholic sister, serial divorcee daughter) that is further tested when friends experiencing a bout of free-floating anxiety move in (the late Katharine Hepburn is radiant as always, and Kate Reid commands the screen as the friend-to-the-bottle sister); and--the only non-family-related film--Robert Shaw's The Man in the Glass Booth (1975, directed by Arthur Hiller), boasts a strong performance from Maximilian Schell as a wealthy Jewish entrepreneur who's accused of being a Nazi concentration camp commandeer and put on trial. Each of the titles includes various extras--interviews with cast (Alan Bates), crew (Arthur Hiller, cinematographer David Watkin), playwrights (Edward Albee, David Storey), and Edie Landau (the late Ely Landau's wife) about the American Film Theatre project, as well as a promo reel featuring Ely Landau, trailers, posters, stills, and essays. Given the ambition, uniqueness, and definite triumphs of the project, coupled with the long unavailability of these titles--all available separately on DVD for $29.95 each and VHS for $24.95 each--this set is recommended. (R. Pitman)