About this product

Product Information

An actress nears an emotional breakdown. An exploration of the personal needs of those who lead a public life.

Product Identifiers

ProducerAl Ruban

EAN5035673011294

eBay Product ID (ePID)115925172

Product Key Features

Film/TV TitleOpening Night

ActorLady Rowlands, Katherine Cassavetes, Laura Johnson, Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands, Paul Stewart, Joan Blondell, John Cassavetes, Zohra Lampert, Ben Gazzara

DirectorJohn Cassavetes

Subtitle LanguageEnglish

FormatBluraydvd

LanguageEnglish

Release Year2013

FeaturesBlack & White, Audio Commentary\Memories of John\Falk on Cassavetes Part 3: the Later Years, With Subtitles

GenreDrama, General

Run Time144 Mins

Additional Product Features

Certificate15

Number of Discs2

Country/Region of ManufactureUnited States of America

ReviewsSight And Sound - In OPENING NIGHT, everything flows from the powerful opening sequence, New York Times - Rowlands at her most radiant....[Cassavettes] is as darkly commanding in front of the camera as he is behind it, Uncut - With a riveting performance from Rowlands

Consumer AdviceContains strong language

Additional InformationJohn Cassavetes, known for his in-depth explorations of individuals who appear to be on the brink of sanity, paints another powerful portrait with OPENING NIGHT. Gena Rowlands stars as Myrtle Gordon, a Broadway actress rehearsing for her latest play, SECOND WOMAN, which concerns a woman who is unable to admit that she is aging. When a beautiful young fan gets hit by a car while trying to chase Myrtle down, she begins to ponder her own mortality, seeing visions of the young girl. This prompts Myrtle to challenge the playwright and director as to the playÆs overriding hopelessness; when opening night approaches, it appears that she has lost touch with reality. As the boozing actress, Rowlands adds another unforgettable performance to her resume, committing herself fully to Myrtle's character, making the film a challenging yet ultimately rewarding viewing experience for those that value a true grit performance. Cassavetes and Ben Gazzara deliver solid supporting turns, but it is Rowlands who steals the show. In focusing on an individual whose profession--an actress re-creating other people's lives--is directly linked to her psychological confusion, Cassavetes has made a universal commentary on coming to terms with oneÆs inevitable aging, as well as the potential peril of living a life in which the lines between fact and fiction can all too easily blur.

Movie/TV TitleOpening Night

ComposerBo Harwood

Sound sourceDolby Digital

CinematographerAl Ruban

EditorTom Cornwell

WriterJohn Cassavetes