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About
Actress Myrtle Gordon is a functioning alcoholic who is a few days from the opening night of her latest play, concerning a woman distraught about aging. One night a car kills one of Myrtle's fans who is chasing her limousine in an attempt to get the star's attention. Myrtle internalizes the accident and goes on a spiritual quest, but fails to finds the answers she is after. As opening night inches closer and closer, fragile Myrtle must find a way to make the show go on.
Theatrical
Dec 22, 1977
DVD / Blu-ray
Apr 14, 1998
Theaters
1
Director
John Cassavetes
Producers
Michael Lally, Mike Lally, Sam Shaw
Music
Bo Harwood
Studio
Faces International Films
Quotes
See all →Professionalism Over Personal Relationships
Maurice Aarons
You're not a woman to me anymore. You're a professional. You don't care about anything, do you? You don't care about personal relationships, love, sex, affection.
Myrtle Gordon
Okay.
Maurice Aarons
I have a small part. It's unsympathetic. The audience doesn't like me. I can't afford to be in love with you.
Myrtle Gordon
Good night.
Maurice Aarons
Yeah, good night.
The Absence of Hope in the Play
Sarah Goode
Just please tell me what this play doesn't express.
Myrtle Gordon
Hope.
Theatrical Passion and Conflict Between Generations
Nancy Stein
I never bothered you. You want to kill me. I devoted my life to you. To movies, to music, to theatre. I'm 17 years old. I like sex. I like to turn people on. And that's what the theatre is: sex. It's like getting laid.
Myrtle Gordon
Um, what did you do to her?
A Remarkable Drunk on Opening Night
Bobby
I've seen a lot of drunks in my day, but I never seen anyone as drunk as you and still be able to walk. You're fantastic.
Cast
Full credits →G
Gena Rowlands
Myrtle Gordon
J
John Cassavetes
Maurice Aarons
B
Ben Gazzara
Manny Victor
J
Joan Blondell
Sarah Goode
P
Paul Stewart
David Samuels
Z
Zohra Lampert
Dorothy Victor
L
Laura Johnson
Nancy Stein
J
John Tuell
Gus Simmons
J
John Finnegan
Bobby
L
Louise Lewis
Kelly (as Louise Fitch)
F
Fred Draper
Leo
K
Katherine Cassavetes
Vivian
L
Lady Rowlands
Melva Drake
A
Angelo Grisanti
Charlie Spikes
M
Meade Roberts
Eddie Stein
E
Eleanor Zee
Sylvia Stein
D
David Rowlands
Doorman
S
Sharon Van Ivan
Shirley
J
James Karen
Bellboy
J
Jimmy Joyce
Bartender
