What a supremely expert and well-balanced cast, and what a beautiful capturing on film of the experience of watching an excellent play production. I say 'beautiful' although the pain of a son's disappearance in the Pacific three years earlier, and the events of two families' lives since then, are overwhelmingly painful to an audience.
I used this production for eighteen years while teaching All My Sons to senior high school Dramatic Arts students, and have seen it make them weep with sorrow and understanding at each playing. The ensemble virtuosity of Michael Learned, James Whitmore, Aidan Quinn, and Joan Allen motivated my students more powerfully than any other examples of acting which I was able to provide for them.
I have had the pleasure of paying my compliments in person to Layne Coleman, who plays neighbour Frank Lubey, when he was performing in David Mamet's "Oleanna" in Kingston, and to Michael Learned when she was in Toronto performing on stage in Edward Albee's "Three Women". Miss Learned told me that her performance as Kate Keller in this production was the work for television of which she was most proud. I still wish for an opportunity to pass this praise along to Mr Quinn and Miss Allen.
Watch this production of "All My Sons" to see the way in which the forms and energies of classical tragedy - the 'disease', the search for a healing act, the faith in the stars, the power of Nemesis - are blended seamlessly with a Shakespearean understanding of the failure of human imagination. Watch to see a cluster of actors at the height of their powers who achieve the miracle of making a work of art new half a century after its creation.
I used this production for eighteen years while teaching All My Sons to senior high school Dramatic Arts students, and have seen it make them weep with sorrow and understanding at each playing. The ensemble virtuosity of Michael Learned, James Whitmore, Aidan Quinn, and Joan Allen motivated my students more powerfully than any other examples of acting which I was able to provide for them.
I have had the pleasure of paying my compliments in person to Layne Coleman, who plays neighbour Frank Lubey, when he was performing in David Mamet's "Oleanna" in Kingston, and to Michael Learned when she was in Toronto performing on stage in Edward Albee's "Three Women". Miss Learned told me that her performance as Kate Keller in this production was the work for television of which she was most proud. I still wish for an opportunity to pass this praise along to Mr Quinn and Miss Allen.
Watch this production of "All My Sons" to see the way in which the forms and energies of classical tragedy - the 'disease', the search for a healing act, the faith in the stars, the power of Nemesis - are blended seamlessly with a Shakespearean understanding of the failure of human imagination. Watch to see a cluster of actors at the height of their powers who achieve the miracle of making a work of art new half a century after its creation.