Three Sisters

Caught this on Talking Pictures and was really impressed. I have seen the play before on stage and think of it as a dreary piece, but this version has changed my opinion. It is the most naturalistic performanceI I have ever seen Laurence Olivier do. There is a lovely performance by Louise Purnell who I recently caught during lockdown when I dug out an old box set of Forsyte Saga. It was also interesting to see a very young Ronald Pickup and Derek Jacobi. I was most impressed. Additionally it was good to see the excellent Alan Bates who had replaced Robert Stephens who was ill. Some reviews mention poor sound but everything was clear and there were no problems,

Having a Russian background, I saw many productions of one of the most famous Chekhov's plays. I'd say the Olivier's "Three sisters" is the best of all I've ever seen. Even if there are some inaccuracies in details related to the Russian 19th century realities, the Olivier's n-depth understanding of the complicated Chekhov's work is amazing.

It is remarkable how deeply interesting and moving is Chekhov's play about a small-town Russian family, longing to move to Moscow. Yet the playwright crafts with such affection and love for his characters that the viewer is hypnotized by the unfoldment.

With a production obviously based on a beautiful stage production, Laurence Olivier co-directs with John Sickel a most engrossing presentation.

Among the outstanding cast, Joan Plowright's Masha, Alan Bates' Col. Vershinin, and Olivier's Dr. Chebutikin are outstanding. The beautiful cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth apparently utilize much of the stage sets, yet they merely add to the overall effectiveness.

Few cuts are made, as the production offers a comprehensive view of this work. Part of the American Film Theatre's series of 1970, "The Three Sisters" is a memorable experience. One longs for a re-release of this fine achievement.

the DVD is from a different source from the American Film Theater. Its my belief THREE SISTERS was strung out for a release and so utilized American Film Theater to get it shown. maybe i'm wrong - but that might account for the funky sound. its a good movie. i have both versions. the DVD is cropped. its a desecration of Olivier to crop his movie. can't we get past doing this to sell new TVs?

This fourth and final feature film directed by Laurence Olivier is his only one not based on Shakespeare or with himself in the title role. Itself now fifty years old, hence the startlingly youthful appearances of National Theatre alumni like Derek Jacobi and Sheila Reid as Andrei and his wife Natasha.

Described by Olivier as "a celebration of the acting rather than a thoroughly conceived filmic version of the play", the settings and groupings often resemble those of a German silent film while the costumes anticipate Bergman's 'Cries and Whispers'. Olivier's camera however glides about the set and cuts in lively pursuit of the Prosorov sisters as they dream their dreams of Moscow's bright lights.