Rating: 
Summary: Almost as Good as Live
Review: About 17 years ago I was fortunate enough to see Jason Robards perform the part of Hicky live, in Los Angeles. Needless to say, it was a riveting 5+ hours of theatre. I knew about this televised version from readings, but had never seen it - until now. It's almost as good as being there! Purests might be upset that the script IS cut - but as much as I love O'Neill, I didn't really miss the cut sections. (Much as with Lumet's "cut" version of "Long Day's Journey"). In fact, this version may actually be more palitable to the less "hard core" watchers. Interesting to see Robert Redford's rather lackluster performance; he may be the weak link in the supporting cast. In any case, a MUST for any student of the theater!
Rating:
Summary: Almost as Good as Live
Review: About 17 years ago I was fortunate enough to see Jason Robards perform the part of Hicky live, in Los Angeles. Needless to say, it was a riveting 5+ hours of theatre. I knew about this televised version from readings, but had never seen it - until now. It's almost as good as being there! Purests might be upset that the script IS cut - but as much as I love O'Neill, I didn't really miss the cut sections. (Much as with Lumet's "cut" version of "Long Day's Journey"). In fact, this version may actually be more palitable to the less "hard core" watchers. Interesting to see Robert Redford's rather lackluster performance; he may be the weak link in the supporting cast. In any case, a MUST for any student of the theater!
Rating:
Summary: The Essence of Theatre
Review: All you have to do is look at the artists involved in this production to realize the landmark importance of this staging. Robards, considered the quintessential interpreter of O'Neill, reprises the role that first caused critics to sit up and take notice that a major league actor had arrived on Broadway. O'Neill roles were more like autobiographies for Robards. He faced the same alcohol-induced demons in real life as confronted such characters as Hickey and James Tyrone.
Though Lumet may not be in the same league as Jose Quintero as far as O'Neill directors are concerned, he nevertheless wrings solid performances out of every cast member involved in this historic production. If you can, you may want to purchase this in conjunction with the 1976 Broadway Archive tape of William Saroyan's "The Time of Your Life." Both plays have similar bar room settings, about the same size cast, and similar themes. It's interesting to see how two major playwright's handle diologue and monologue, dramatic conflict and themes of dissipation. Personally, I've always felt O'Neill digs a lot deeper than Saroyan, but both productions are superb, as are most plays in the Broadway Theater Archive series.
Rating:
Summary: This thing vibrates.
Review: December 20, 2002 I rented this one not long ago and sat through its
mammoth performance straight. This broadcast from
the end of the live television era reaps the benefits
of everything that was developed in that art form's
brief lifespan. 'Iceman' practically hums with the
energy, dedication and craft of its performers. It
is just plain exciting to watch. I've never been too big a fan of Eugene O'Neil and
his (from today's vantage point) rather overworked
writing style, but I was grateful that 'Iceman' was
as long as it was, and that it permitted me as much
time with its excellent stage actors as it did. Their
work, and the earnest compassion of O'Neil's writing,
are to be savoured. In comparison to today's diet
of ego-rich, hype-rich, ironic-rich, style-rich, but
often craft-deprived efforts--faults evident even
within the independent film scene--'Iceman' is an
electric piece of work. Jason Robards is terrific, one of my favorites. Now
if only they'd release 'A Thousand Clowns' on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: This thing vibrates.
Review: December 20, 2002 I rented this one not long ago and sat through its
mammoth performance straight. This broadcast from
the end of the live television era reaps the benefits
of everything that was developed in that art form's
brief lifespan. 'Iceman' practically hums with the
energy, dedication and craft of its performers. It
is just plain exciting to watch. I've never been too big a fan of Eugene O'Neil and
his (from today's vantage point) rather overworked
writing style, but I was grateful that 'Iceman' was
as long as it was, and that it permitted me as much
time with its excellent stage actors as it did. Their
work, and the earnest compassion of O'Neil's writing,
are to be savoured. In comparison to today's diet
of ego-rich, hype-rich, ironic-rich, style-rich, but
often craft-deprived efforts--faults evident even
within the independent film scene--'Iceman' is an
electric piece of work. Jason Robards is terrific, one of my favorites. Now
if only they'd release 'A Thousand Clowns' on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Black and white, grainy, grand theater!
Review: I don't need to add superlatives to Robard's signature performance in the role of Hickey. Instead I want to mention a scene in Act 2 (first cassette of the vcr version) between Larry Slade (Myron McCormick) and Don Parrit (Robert Redford).
The bums are starting to gather for Harry's birthday, and Parrit makes his way to Larry's table, where he tells him of Hickey's hounding him. The camera is close on the two men at the table; Larry, suspecting the worst, does not want to listen as Parrit repeats what Hickey has been saying to him about guilt and admitting the truth. In the background, Cora, one of the 'tarts' is practicing "The Sweetheart Of Paradise Alley" to sing for Harry, in a sweet, halting voice.
It is an absloutely stunning scene, and Redford somehow makes it believable that he has remembered all that Hickey has said to him: "what did he mean by that, Larry?" he keeps asking McCormick, who can't bear to look him in the eye.
The play itself is embedded with such scenic images, where characters, and dialog, and setting, and antiphonal voices communicate the essence of longing or hope or dispair or delusion or faith or enmity -- the complete range of human emotion and experience. All of this realized in this production.
Another dimension that comes across in this production is the role of women in the lives of men. The three tarts in the play comically and pathetically balance three offstage women who haunt the play: Parrit's mother, Harry Hope's Bessy, and Hickey's Evelyn.
Rating:
Summary: For TV afficionados, this is the real deal.
Review: I just got this DVD, and I'm here to tell you that it is the actual 'live television' essence: a digitally remastered 1960 videotape broadcast of the play which celebrated Eugene O'Neill and introduced Jason Robards. What you see isn't a film (though the introduction by Worthington Miner looks a bit 'kinescopic'); it is an approximation of early 2-inch videotape, which was still fairly new back then. Because it is tape and not film, it reads and moves as a play, which makes the central performances by Robards and McCormick all the more shattering. It *is* over 4 hours, but it is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Robards' Astounding Performance
Review: The chance to see Jason Robards portray his signature role as "Hickey" makes this video well worth the price. This performance of the complete "Iceman Cometh" was originally aired on CBS in 1962, as a live two-part performance, and the video and audio quality suffer from the transferral, but what remains is an extremely well-directed version of this play, which preserves Robards in the role that first brought him acclaim. The supporting cast in generaly excellent, with standout performances from James Broderick and a very young Robert Redford. This version of the play makes an interesting contrast to the 1973 film version, directed by John Frankenheimer, which features a decent, though limted, Lee Marvin as Hickey, but which also displays two incredible actors, Robert Ryan as Larry, and Frederick March as Harry Hope, who are so wonderful in their final screen roles that they overshadow the rest of the characters, Hickey included. One can only lament the director's choice not to cast Robards, thus missing the opportunity to unite three of the greatest O'Neill interpreters in these three splendid roles. Oh well.......
Rating:
Summary: Robards' Astounding Performance
Review: The chance to see Jason Robards portray his signature role as "Hickey" makes this video well worth the price. This performance of the complete "Iceman Cometh" was originally aired on CBS in 1962, as a live two-part performance, and the video and audio quality suffer from the transferral, but what remains is an extremely well-directed version of this play, which preserves Robards in the role that first brought him acclaim. The supporting cast in generaly excellent, with standout performances from James Broderick and a very young Robert Redford. This version of the play makes an interesting contrast to the 1973 film version, directed by John Frankenheimer, which features a decent, though limted, Lee Marvin as Hickey, but which also displays two incredible actors, Robert Ryan as Larry, and Frederick March as Harry Hope, who are so wonderful in their final screen roles that they overshadow the rest of the characters, Hickey included. One can only lament the director's choice not to cast Robards, thus missing the opportunity to unite three of the greatest O'Neill interpreters in these three splendid roles. Oh well.......
Rating:
Summary: Robards' Astounding Performance
Review: The chance to see Jason Robards portray his signature role as "Hickey" makes this video well worth the price. This performance of the complete "Iceman Cometh" was originally aired on CBS in 1962, as a live two-part performance, and the video and audio quality suffer from the transferral, but what remains is an extremely well-directed version of this play, which preserves Robards in the role that first brought him acclaim. The supporting cast in generaly excellent, with standout performances from James Broderick and a very young Robert Redford. This version of the play makes an interesting contrast to the 1973 film version, directed by John Frankenheimer, which features a decent, though limted, Lee Marvin as Hickey, but which also displays two incredible actors, Robert Ryan as Larry, and Frederick March as Harry Hope, who are so wonderful in their final screen roles that they overshadow the rest of the characters, Hickey included. One can only lament the director's choice not to cast Robards, thus missing the opportunity to unite three of the greatest O'Neill interpreters in these three splendid roles. Oh well.......
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