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» » Long Day's Journey Into Night (1982)

Short summary

Over the course of one day in August 1912, the family of retired actor James Tyrone grapples with the morphine addiction of his wife Mary, the illness of their youngest son Edmund and the ... See full summary
Over the course of one day in August 1912, the family of retired actor James Tyrone grapples with the morphine addiction of his wife Mary, the illness of their youngest son Edmund and the alcoholism and debauchery of their older son Jamie. As day turns into night, guilt, anger, despair, and regret threaten to destroy the family.

The Broadway play by Eugene O'Neill opened at the Helen Hayes Theater in New York on November 7, 1956, ran for 390 performances and won the 1957 Tony Award for the Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1957.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Questanthr
    This performance of one of O'Neill's several masterpieces sorely needs to be released on DVD. It is simply superb!! All four actors acquit themselves mightily, but Ruby Dee gives an interpretation of the tragic Mary Tyrone to break your heart. Earl Hyman as patriarch James Tyrone is also magnificent. O'Neill's text is adapted only slightly to accommodate the African-American characters-- changed from the original Irish-American. I have no doubt O'Neill would totally approve of the non-traditional casting and of this fine production. Please-- let's see this impressive Long Day's Journey into Night on DVD soon! JHB-4 New Orleans
  • comment
    • Author: Gldasiy
    Ruby Dee is great--really getting the desperation of her character. I've always found Earle Hyman a little stiff in the role, but he is strong early on. Both of the sons are adequate. This African-American version is a risky attempt, probably a little illogical overall, but it does show that the play is adaptable to any good cast. I still think that the 1962 version is the best overall, but this one is still worth watching if you can find it. I took me almost a year to track down a DVD of it. I did, eventually, and was happy to have it. I have my American lit students watch all four acts as they exist in four different film versions: Jack Lemmon and Kevin Spacey, this one, one with Olivier and Constance Cummings, and the original film version with Richardson, Stockwell, Robards, and Hepburn. I still believe that the last one, with incredible performances by Robards and Hepburn in the last act, would be hard to top. I saw this at the Alley Theatre a few years ago--a gruelling performance that lasted almost four hours--with the great Ellen Burstyn playing Mrs. Tyrone. I always thought that the ideal casting for her role would have been Geraldine Chaplin--playing her own great-grandmother. But it never came to pass.
  • comment
    • Author: Uafrmaine
    When I first saw this movie, my life was changed in a positive way. This movie MUST be released on DVD. This is the type of performance that the African American community should be watching on TV. It is very uplifting and positive. Ruby Dee is just acting as if it is a natural lifestyle. Earle Hyman acting complement her performance. His performance does capture your attention. The most impressive performance is that of Jamie. The actor captures the experience of a son in this household and in addition, he gives you the ultimate Black experience. I may not be able to explain the Black experience BUT it is there for us to see. All of America must check this movie out and by the way, there will be NO Late Fees.
  • Credited cast:
    Thommie Blackwell Thommie Blackwell - James Tyrone Jr.
    Ruby Dee Ruby Dee - Mary Tyrone
    Rhetta Hughes Rhetta Hughes - Cathleen
    Earle Hyman Earle Hyman - James Tyrone
    Peter Francis James Peter Francis James - Edmund Tyrone
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