Miss Julie [1972] [DVD]

As a fan of Helen Mirren I ordered this DVD. It would have been made in the early days of Helen Mirren's acting career in fact reminded me of the old TV shows that looked like a stage play. I found it a bit hard going but stuck with it but would not be likely to watch it again. Watched it on my own as I knew my husband would not like it.

Being a live theatre fanatic one tells as many stories about the ones you didn't get to see as well as the memories from the ones you did.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see this production live (back in 1972) but thank you to those (The RSC) who had the foresight to record it for posterity. NT (National Theatre London) Live has taken up the slack (starting in 2009) with yet another Helen Mirren production: that being Phedre and as such there will now be a permanent record of that.

But I digress.

A much younger Helen Mirren (about 27 years of age if I do the math right) stars as Julie, the spoiled daughter in Ibsen's masterpiece. It is her interaction with Jean (Donal McCann) that make this particular version work so well.

There is a cat and mouse aspect of Ibsen's story that will only keep the audience attentive if you have the right chemistry between these two central characters.

And yes; it not only works but it shines. You can see Helen Mirren go from being the cat to the mouse over the scenes. She is the upper class. Donal McCann is nothing but a servant... but that quickly changes when she becomes more than just interested in him.

Mirren teases the audience with her interest in McCann. At first you think it is a game but then you don't know if it is reality and by the time they wind up in bed and he has "taken her" she becomes the mouse trapped in his cage.

My only "complaint" is in the lighting; something I find time and time again in "filmed" versions of stage plays.

I understand that limited resources cannot turn these productions into film masterpieces and I am oh so greatful that this pieces exists at all but could one go back in time me thinks the lighting could have been done better.

Don't let my last comment put you off. This is a masterpiece (what isn't by Ibsen?) and the Mirren/McCann version definitely deserves to be seen.

Yes, still so young and so talented. And Strindberg's text is dense and difficult. Quite a challenge for any actress.
A few weeks earlier, I had seen it on stage. Then, I sent for the DVD just to compare both performances ( in Portugal, MISS JULIE was played by the also most gifted actress Beatriz Batarda, who did Annette in THE FORSYTE SAGA - revisited ). In my opinion, Beatriz is not worse than Helen.