The Homecoming (1973)

Director:

Peter Hall

Writers:

Harold Pinter (play)
Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The share the house. They share the food. They share Teddy's wife. Such a nice happy family.

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cyril Cusack	...	Sam, brother of Max
Ian Holm	...	Lenny
Michael Jayston	...	Teddy
Vivien Merchant	...	Ruth
Terence Rigby	...	Joey
Paul Rogers	...	Max, father of Lenny, Teddy, and Joey
Jonathan Sachar	...	Brian

Directed by
Peter Hall

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Harold Pinter		play
Harold Pinter		screenplay

Produced by
Mort Abrahams	....	executive producer
Ben Baker	....	producer (2006 restored version)
Ely A. Landau	....	producer
Otto Plaschkes	....	executive producer
Henry T. Weinstein	....	executive producer
Robert A. Goldston	....	supervising producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Rex Pyke

Production Design by
John Bury

Art Direction by
Jack Stephens
Jack Stevens

Costume Design by
Joan Bridge
Elizabeth Haffenden

Makeup Department
John O'Gorman	....	makeup artist
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist

Production Management
William Kaplan	....	production supervisor (as Bill Kaplan)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christopher Dryhurst	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Bob Allen	....	sound mixer (as Robert Allen)
Bob Allen	....	sound recordist (as Robert Allen)
John Ireland	....	dialogue editor
Peter Keen	....	dubbing editor
Nolan Roberts	....	dubbing mixer

Other crew
Jonathan Burrows	....	production executive
Neil Landau	....	production associate

Production Companies

• Cinévision Ltée
• The American Film Theatre

Distributors

• Kino Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• 3DD Entertainment (2004) (UK) (all media)
• inD DVD (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• The American Film Theatre (1973) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Harold Pinter's The Homecoming (Australia) (DVD box title) (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | USA:PG

Company:

Cinévision Ltée

Quotes:

Max, father of Lenny, Teddy, and Joey: I mean, you needn't tell them she's your wife.
Lenny: No, we'd call her something else. Dolores, or something.
Max, father of Lenny, Teddy, and Joey: Or Spanish Jacky.
Lenny: No, you've got to be reserved about it, Dad. We could call her something nice... like Cynthia... or Gillian.

Pinter at his best

The first thing that should be emphasised I think is if you you get the chance I strongly recommend you see the play at the theatre, somehow Pinter's famous pauses seem longer on the stage, and the claustrophobia of the piece is maintained far better than when you watch it on the screen. Nevertheless if you have seen the play (or even if you haven't) you really should watch this film version. Firstly it is directed by the fantastic Peter Hall, one of the great stage directors of the era (and still a great stage director) and thus he is able to remain true to the stage format of the play, while also maintaining a strong cinematic emphasis, this is not just a recording of a stage play. Secondly it features some truly fine actors including the fantastic Vivienne Merchant. Being Pinter's wife she seems to have a unique understanding of the words and is able to convey this onto the audience, her first conversation when she meets Lenny (Ian Holm) particularly sticks in the mind. Ian Holm and Paul Rogers are also fantastic along with the rest of the cast who have names as well known on the stage as they are on the screen. Overall I don't believe I've seen a finer adaptation of a play for the screen.