Look Back in Anger (1980 film)
1980 television film directed by Lindsay Anderson and David Hugh Jones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Look Back in Anger is a 1980 television film based on John Osborne's 1956 play.[1] It is directed by Lindsay Anderson and David Hugh Jones, and stars Malcolm McDowell, Lisa Banes and Fran Brill.
David Hugh Jones
Lisa Banes
Fran Brill
Robert Burr
Raymond Hardie
| Look Back in Anger | |
|---|---|
| |
| Based on | |
| Written by | John Osborne |
| Directed by | Lindsay Anderson David Hugh Jones |
| Starring | Malcolm McDowell Lisa Banes Fran Brill Robert Burr Raymond Hardie |
Countries of origin | United Kingdom United States |
Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Don Boyd Charles Braverman |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production companies | Crossover Programming Company Kendon Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | PBS |
| Release | July 2, 1980 |
Anderson, who had previously worked with Malcolm McDowell on if.... and O Lucky Man!, translated Ted Craig's Roundabout Theatre Company off-Broadway production (in which McDowell was starring[2]) to the screen, and taped results in three days.[3] It was aired in the United States on PBS and Showtime, and later released on VHS by Warner Home Video.
Plot
Look Back in Anger is about a love triangle involving an intelligent but disaffected young man Jimmy Porter, his upper-middle-class, impassive wife Alison Porter, and her snooty best friend Helena Charles. Cliff, an amiable Welsh lodger, attempts to keep the peace.
Cast
- Malcolm McDowell as Jimmy Porter
- Lisa Banes as Alison Porter
- Fran Brill as Helena Charles
- Raymond Hardie as Cliff Lewis
- Robert Burr as Colonel Redfern
Release
The film premiered on PBS in July 1980. It later aired in 1981 on Showtime, as part of their Broadway on Showtime anthology programme.[4] It was released on VHS by Warner Home Video.
Reception
John J. O'Connor of The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, writing "Mr. McDowell and the rest of the cast tended to talk in whispers, conveying the curious impression that they didn't want to disturb the next-door neighbors. Perhaps Mr. Anderson wanted to give Jimmy's male chauvinism a softer edge for contemporary audiences. But he and Mr. McDowell succeeded only in making the character disconcertingly dull."[4]
The film was nominated for a 1982 CableACE Award for Best Single Program - Dramatic Presentation.
