Stevie

Literate, lovely, sad film about the British poet/writer Stevie Smith with splendid performances by Glenda Jackson as Stevie and Mona Washbourne as the "lion aunt." Stagy, yes, but filled with love and wit and great wisdom.

The narrative follows the adult years of the eccentric poet in her suburban London home she shares with her aunt. Her workaday like is a background to her domestic life with flashbacks of school, a failed love, and death ... a major theme in her writing.

But rather than being gloomy, the film points out the joys of a life even if unfulfilled by husband and children. Jackson enacts many of Stevie's poems as a counterpoint to her own life, and she is quite superb.

Mona Washbourne is excellent and endearing as the aging aunt who really doesn't understand the Bohemian life of her gifted niece. Yet they have a wonderful life together. The domestic scenes of the simple joys of conversation and good sherry are wondrous.

Alec McCowen is the lost suitor. Trevor Howard is the narrator who wanders through the story.

A pity this is not available on DVD. A lovely film for the intelligent viewer.

This film betrays its stage origins at every turn, from the length of time it takes to get going to its asides to camera. Performances are strong throughout, particularly Glenda Jackson as Stevie Smith and Trevor Howard as the mysterious 'The Man', who speaks Smith's poems so brilliantly.

Jackson was a marvellous actress who left many performances on record before her decision to retire and become an MP; watching 'Stevie', you can see hints of her other roles ... and yet, because of make-up, script and setting it is so different to any of the others.

Tightly directed and economically filmed, 'Stevie' is a film which repays watching more than once. It should be more widely available.

This is an appallingly boring film. Perhaps it was an interesting stage play...I don't know. But it doesn't work as a film because there is virtually nothing cinematic about it. It remains confined largely within the dimensions of a stage set (there is really only one set, a shabby-genteel apartment where "Stevie" (the real-life poet Stevie Smith) lives with her long-suffering aunt (played by Mona Washbourne). Stevie, you see, has problems---emotional problems, problems with her "muse," problems living with her dependent aunt, problems with lovers (one of them, Trevor Howard, bears the enigmatic name of "The Man.") And Stevie TALKS...all the time, a constant stream of arty, supposedly meaningful, but utterly self-indulgent jabber. Glenda Jackson plays "Stevie,"...she really liked talky parts, it would seem. This one fits her like a glove. She, Howard, Washbourne, and Alec McCowen are four of the finest actors Britain has produced. Yet they wallow in this mess for what seems like days (the film actually only runs a bit over the usual 90 minutes). Steer clear of this deadly dull bio-pic, unless you just can't do without the poetry and posturings of Stevie Smith, or you absolutely must see the entire "oeuvre" of Glenda Jackson, M.P.

Reading the reviews and feeling like I feel, I want to keep this film alive by adding a comment here.

I saw this years ago and never forgot it. I was (and am) a Glenda Jackson fan - although we are both of age now. The story of Stevie Smith was new to me at the time. What a wonderful way to get to know her writings ! It blew me way. I've read much of her since thanks to this film. I found it sublime. Much thanks to Mona Washburn and Trevor Howard (both died in 1988), but mostly to Glenda Jackson. I wish I could see it again. Can anybody show me where to get it ? Dl or otherwise. I'm grateful that I have the vinyl LP so I can listen to it from time to time :)

As another reviewer has said, this film is talky. Talky like a good Shakespeare play is talky, in my opinion. Glenda Jackson reading Stevie Smith's poetry on screen. Works for me. The film contains "four of the finest actors Britain has produced", says a reviewer. You don't suppose such high caliber actors know what is good material and what is not worth their time, do you? This film is a treasure. No CGI special effects, but you won't miss them. It is just an exploration of a poets life. A wonderful life, well lived. A wonderful film, well acted. Glenda Jackson as Stevie takes the viewer on a journey through the life of poet, Stevie Smith. Glenda breaths life into the incidents of Stevie's life with her great skill as an actress. And Mona Washbourne as Stevie's "Lion" Aunt, is no less that just perfect.