The Maids

This turned up late one night on a London TV station. Never shown theatrically in the UK since you could go and see the play where it belongs, in the theatre.

It is a difficult to watch film. The actors perform as if they are on a stage. The cinematography is headache inducing. Little attempt at editing. It is an unwatchable bore. Little wonder that the venture was short-lived.

Thank God for the Trio network who are showing the American Express film series every Saturday night. I remember seeing the movie in 1974 when it played only two nights at the Metro Theatre. It was through the AmEx and you purchased tickets via subscription. It was the only way we theater buffs could see some great plays on film.

"The Maid" was on Trio recently and I taped it for later viewing. After watching Glenda Jackson and Susannah York, one can see one of the great acting duos in the 20th Century. However I was mesmerized by the performance of Vivien Merchant as their employer. This was also a great piece of acting. I will keep this tape to watch over again.

This was part of the 2nd season of "American Film Theater" - producer Ely Landau's idea of filming plays and showing them in theatres for only 2 days and nights and you had to buy tickets in advance a la a night at the theater or a concert . . . I believe they sold tickets at the door only if there were any left (much like theater or concerts)

The first season included the likes of "The Iceman Cometh", and "The Man in The Glass Booth" and "The Maids" were among the 2nd season. This was an interesting idea but I'm sure it was unsuccessful. It seems that these pictures have vanished since their original brief theatrical release.

"The Maids" played in US theatres in February 1975

I first saw 'The Maids' on PBS in the early 1980s, and loved it. The American Film Series was briefly available in Betamax format, but has long been unavailable. Now the series has been released on VHS and DVD, and I am delighted.

At the time I was unfamiliar with the play; this film served as an introduction to Genet's work, and further to the so-called 'Theatre of the Absurd.' Glenda Jackson and Susannah York give absolutely incredible performances as Solange and Claire, the title characters, who take turns dressing as their mistress (played by Vivien Merchant), and abusing each other in a parody of the master/slave relationship. It is difficult to recapitulate the plot in the space provided. Being faithful to the source text, the film is very wordy, and with a lesser cast and director would probably be unwatchable, but if you like full-throttle acting by three of the twentieth century's best actresses, and don't need an edit every four seconds, this is worth your time.

Whether one enjoys 'The Maids' is perhaps dependent on whether you're familiar with Jean Genet's play and what if familiar your thoughts on it are. Personally think that the play is an interesting one for its atmosphere and characterisation, but am never going to see it as one of my favourites. It is one of those plays that is going to divide people. The cast also drew me into seeing 'The Maids', having liked Susannah York and especially Glenda Jackson (loved in her case) in other things.

Despite the rating as of now here indicating otherwise, to me 'The Maids' is actually one of the better entries in the uneven American Film Theatre series. It is not my definition of a masterpiece by any stretch and like most films in the series one can tell that it is adapted from stage. But the cast are as good as one can get and the atmosphere is handled very well and faithfully. So yeah it is recommended, while not considering it a must see.

As was just said, 'The Maids' can feel somewhat stagebound. Evident in moments of dull pacing, an at times too confined setting and not always feeling opened up enough.

Especially early on. The dialogue rambles at times.

Like all the other films in the series, the best component is the acting. Jackson and York go at their roles full throttle and give hair-raising performances. Particularly Jackson. Their chemistry is dynamite, essential in making an adaptation of 'The Maids' work. One also mustn't overlook Vivien Merchant, anybody who loved her performance in 'The Homecoming' (speaking as one of those people) earlier in the series will love her formidable yet nuanced performance here.

The film is atmospherically shot and generally the setting is alive in colour and atmosphere. The score is suitably haunting without being melodramatic. The dialogue has its fair share of chills and tension, unashamedly melodramatic but it works within the story. Despite staginess, 'The Maids' nails the mood of the play, something 'Three Sisters' for example (another example of a mood driven play) struggled to do so. The character writing for the three leads is as rich and hard hittinh as ought.

Overall, well done and deserving of more credit. 7/10.