Three Sisters (1970)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

Laurence Olivier
John Sichel

Writers:

Moura Budberg (writer)
Anton Chekhov (play)

Release Date:

2 March 1973 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Olga, Masha, and Irina Prozoroff lead lonely and purposeless lives following the death of their father who has commanded the local army post...

Plot Keywords:

Moscow | Dissatisfaction | Soldier | Brother Sister Relationship | Clucking

Cast

Jeanne Watts	...	Olga
Joan Plowright	...	Masha
Louise Purnell	...	Irina
Derek Jacobi	...	Andrei
Sheila Reid	...	Natasha
Kenneth MacKintosh	...	Kulighin
Daphne Heard	...	Anfissa the nana
Harry Lomax	...	Ferrapont the watchman
Judy Wilson	...	Serving maid
Mary Griffiths	...	Housemaid
Ronald Pickup	...	Baron Tusenbach
Laurence Olivier	...	Dr. Ivan Chebutikin
Frank Wylie	...	Maj. Vassili Vassilich Solloni
Alan Bates	...	Col. Vershinin
Richard Kay	...	Lt. Fedotik
David Belcher	...	Lt. Rode
George Selway	...	Orderly
David Munro	...	Officer
Alan Adams	...	Officer
Robert Walker	...	Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Fielder	...	The Devil (uncredited)

Directed by
Laurence Olivier
John Sichel

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Moura Budberg		writer
Anton Chekhov		play "Tri sestry"

Produced by
Ben Baker	....	producer (restored version 2005)
Timothy Burrill	....	associate producer
Alan Clore	....	executive producer
John Goldstone	....	producer
James C. Katz	....	associate producer
Jim Shields	....	associate producer (as James Shields)

Original Music by
William Walton

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
Jack Harris

Production Design by
Josef Svoboda

Art Direction by
William Hutchinson		(as Bill Hutchinson)

Costume Design by
Beatrice Dawson

Makeup Department
Carol Beckett	....	hair stylist
Bob Lawrance	....	makeup artist
Gladys Leakey	....	hair stylist
Philip Leakey	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Green	....	third assistant director
Simon Relph	....	assistant director
Nigel Wooll	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Timothy Bryan	....	assistant art director
Gilly Noyes Court	....	scenic artist (as Gilly Noyes Court)
Peter Howitt	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Buster Ambler	....	sound recordist
Bob Jones	....	sound recordist
Jim Shields	....	sound editor (as James Shields)

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer
Cedric James	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Breed	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Hazel Wilkinson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Derek Hudson	....	music arranger
Gary Hughes	....	music arranger
Marc Wilkinson	....	conductor

Other crew
Carvel	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Alan Clore Films
• Lion International Films

Distributors

• inD DVD (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1970) (UK) (theatrical)
• Kino Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• The American Film Theatre (1974) (USA)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• National Theatre of Great Britain Production  original stage production

Runtime:

165 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:S | USA:G

Company:

Alan Clore Films

Trivia:

Alan Bates replaced Robert Stephens who was forced to withdraw through illness.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Tess': From Novel to Screen (2004) (V)

Superb cast, production; lousy sound

A fine, sensitive filming of a fine stage production of Chekhov's masterpiece THE THREE SISTERS. A few of the actors are a bit too broad and stagey (especially the oldest sister, the schoolteacher), reflecting inexperience acting for the camera, but that's a minor flaw.

What's up with the sound? I rented the DVD and the sound track is terrible for a film from this period. It's hard to make out some of the dialogue, especially when a character turns away from the camera. I hate having to strain to hear dialogue, especially dialogue by Chekhov! It seems to be a recording problem. The film was shot on what seem to be massive stage sets. This family's provincial home looks roughly the size of the Winter Palace. I'm guessing the cavernous sets swallowed up and muffled the dialogue, resulting in the poor sound quality.

Aside from the deficiencies of the sound (and there's no excuse for such a problem in a production from 1970 -- fire that sound engineer!) it's a great production of a gently funny and bittersweet classic play.