Although the camerawork is often clumsy, this black-and-white film of the 1963 Chichester Festival Theatre production of Anton Chekhov's 1897 play about wasted lives will be a mandatory acquisition for performing arts collections, and should appeal to anyone interested in consummate acting. Laurence Olivier directs Constance Garnett's elegant English version of the text with both insight and good taste, securing memorable performances from a truly outstanding company. Michael Redgrave is pathetic and touching as the title character, who has spent years managing the rural estate of his brother-in-law, the dry-as-dust Professor Serebryakov (Max Adrian). Following his first wife's death, self-styled scholar Serebryakov is now remarried to young Helena (a luminous Rosemary Harris), and on a visit from the city he suddenly announces his intention to sell the farm, threatening the security of his unmarried niece, Sonya (Joan Plowright), as well as Vanya. Olivier himself smoothly plays Doctor Astrov, the local physician who commiserates with Vanya about the emptiness of rustic existence while gingerly flirting with Helena, and Fay Compton and Sybil Thorndike deliver fine performances in the relatively minor roles of Marya, Vanya's aged mother, and the elderly nurse Marina. Over the years this provincial production has acquired almost legendary status, and while the sometimes muddy visuals and LPCM sound are only adequate, they're good enough to demonstrate that the reputation is wholly justified. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Uncle Vanya
(1963) 106 min. DVD: $24.99. Kultur International Films (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 978-0-7697-5033-0. Volume 28, Issue 6
Uncle Vanya
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