A Delicate Balance (1973)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Writer:

Edward Albee (play)

Release Date:

April 1976 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The sister who drank too much. The daughter who divorced too much. They're all there when Tobias and Agnes have their little get-together and tear-apart.

Plot:

The setting is the comfortable Connecticut home of a well-to-do family. Agnes is a determined, powerful...

Plot Keywords:

Pulitzer Prize Source | Independent Film | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Katharine Hepburn	...	Agnes
Paul Scofield	...	Tobias
Lee Remick	...	Julia
Kate Reid	...	Claire
Joseph Cotten	...	Harry
Betsy Blair	...	Edna

Also Known As:

Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance (Australia) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA | Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Greece:K | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | USA:PG

Company:

Cinévision Ltée

Trivia:

Hume Cronyn was nominated for the 1967 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Drama for "A Delicate Balance" as the character Tobias.

Relentlessly razor sharp - for theater lovers

Time has not been kind to the movies made under the umbrella of the well intentioned American Film Theater. The bulk of these works are way off the mark, failing to achieve one of the major goals of the project; the preservation of these important plays on screen. "Butley", "The Homecoming" and "A Delicate Balance" are the ones that came off best.

"A Delicate Balance" Albee in his prime; relentlessly razor sharp. Director Tony Richardson thankfully makes little effort to diminish the inherent staginess and theatricality. He allows his superb cast to milk Albee's barbs to their last drop.

Katherine Hepburn turns in a terrific performance, though those who have a distaste for the Hepburn mannerisms, will not be converted. It's a pleasure to watch both Kate Reid and Paul Scofield, consummate stage performers who fared far less well in the cinema.

While overlong and at times uneven, "A Delicate Balance" is strictly for theater lovers. They will not be disappointed.