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Product Description
A Woman Under the Influence (The John Cassavetes Collection)
A film by John Cassavetes
Receiving its long-overdue Blu-ray world premiere, A Woman Under the Influence is arguably John Cassavetes most popular and influential film. Released in 1974 it stars Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands (Gloria, Faces) and the legendary Peter Falk (Columbo) as Mabel and Nick Longhetti, a blue-collar couple struggling to cope with her slip into mental illness.
A key work from a golden era of American filmmaking this masterpiece of American independent filmmaking is as powerful and devastating today as it was when it was first released. The film received two Oscar® - nominations Rowlands was for Best Actress and Cassavetes for Best Director
Special Features
- Presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition
- Falk on Cassavetes: husbands and wives (DVD only, 15 mins)
- Elaine Kagan interviewed by Tom Charity (DVD only, 19 mins)
- Original trailer (3 mins)
- Alternative 16mm trailer (3 mins)
- Fully illustrated booklet featuring interviews and new essays by Tom Charity and Al Ruban
US / colour / English language, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles
Disc 1: BD50 / 1080p / 24fps / PCM mono audio (48k/24-bit)
Disc 2: DVD9 / PAL / Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps)
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region B DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Dolby Linear PCM ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Alternative Footage, Blu-Ray & DVD Combo, Booklet, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Receiving its long-overdue Blu-ray world premiere, A Woman Under The Influence is arguably John Cassavetes' most popular and influential film. Released in 1974 it stars Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands (Gloria, Faces) and the legendary Peter Falk (Columbo) as Mabel and Nick Longhetti, a blue-collar couple struggling to cope with her slip into mental illness. A key work from a golden era of American filmmaking - this masterpiece of American independent filmmaking is as powerful and devastating today as it was when it was first released. The film received two Oscar-nominations - Rowlands was for Best Actress and Cassavetes for Best Director - losing out to Francis Ford Coppola for Godfather Pt II. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Golden Globes, Oscar Academy Awards, San Sebastian International Film Festival, ...A Woman Under the Influence (Blu-Ray & DVD Combo) (Blu-Ray)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By schumann_bg
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
A Woman Under The Influence is one of the great films, not just of the 70s but since the beginning of cinema, it has such grandeur in its intimacy, such emotion, and it fearlessly sustains this over two and a half hours. Gena Rowlands gives a performance that no adjective can adequately describe, it takes you so much into the heart and soul of this woman who seems to be having such difficulty keeping it together - although I remember Cassavetes saying in an interview that she was quite normal and that it would be just as reasonable to see the husband and others as really having the problems, not her. She just didn't fit into society's expectation of how a wife and mother should behave ... however one sees this - and the question is surely at the heart of the film - Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk make one of the most memorable and touching screen couples, getting a tremendous range of feeling and tone into the portrayal of these lives - and humour as well. I'm sure anyone who has seen the film will forever think of the name Mabel in a different way; Gena Rowlands becomes her so completely and the camera just doesn't flinch, so she becomes one of the most complete embodiments of a certain mode of being and feeling that has ever been caught on screen. It's a film that has to be seen by anyone who really cares about what the medium can do - ideally on the big screen, but failing that, on DVD.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Shot and released back in 1974, Woman is a searingly honest depiction of a wife and mother cruising along the edges of sanity. Cassavetes cast his own partner Gene Rowlands as 'the everyday housewife' and was rewarded with a power-house performance which remains a career best. Close friend and co-hort Peter Falk filled the role of Rowlands' husband, getting a rare chance to demonstrate his skill and sensitivity as an actor with a striking protrayal of a working joe suddenly confronted with the unknown. The story is a simple narrative following the woman's struggle with her inner demons, balanced with the subsequent effect on her small family which is thrown into near turmoil without her at the helm. This is a haunting film, lovingly made and every inch an equal to the following year's Oscar shower, One flew over the Cuckoo's nest (also dealing with mental health). Futhermore, the movie has aged remarkably well; no doubt due to the fact that modern-day living - house, car, pet etc. - remains largely unchanged. A woman under the influence is a testament to Cassavetes' gift and bravery as a filmmaker and there is quality right down the line. Gene Rowlands rightly won herself an Oscar for her journey into darkness and helped ensure that this film ranks along the finest of 70's cinema.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Savannah D
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent film by John Cassavetes, it's a must see for all budding actors and filmmakers out there. Cassavetes was way ahead of his time in his improv working methods and there is so much to learn from viewing this film, which stands out for me from the rest of his work. Peter Falk is a genius, and this film is a testament to his underrated talent. Gina Rowlands and the rest of the cast give outstanding realistic performances in what is an innovative and original piece of filmmaking.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
This is the kind of movie that forces conversation afterwards. It is difficult to describe the film without giving away the story. The acting is extremely good. Peter Falk plays a man/husband that we have all sadly seen before. His co-star produces one of the best roles that I have seen. This is a don't miss film
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By BigKnob88
Format:DVD
The plot for the less intelligent viewer to understand..... Gena Rowlands character has a breakdown that affects the relationship between her and her husband (Peter Falk - excellent). She is taken away to a mental faculty and returns for the last part of the film. Rowlands was deservedly oscar nominated for her fine performance. A 70's classic by John Cassavetes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By The Doogster
Format:DVD
Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk both give mesmerising performances. Although the movie is 2.5 hours long, the time flies by because of its hypnotic nature. Cassavetes never bogs down the movie with lingering exposition. It's just raw, pure emotion.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ronel
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A wonderfully-written script,tight directing and award-winning acting keeps this film fresh after many years. It is definitely worth watching repeatedly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
CASSAVETES ( director only ) - ROWLANDS - FALK, IN GREAT MOMENTS !! Yoy will realize what it means realy caltural cinema. You will also understand why Cassavetes is called the "father" of American Independed cinema. Yoy will enjoy PETER FALK ( such a great actor ) and you will be astonished by the performance of Gena Rowlands. If you watch carefully you'll notice 2 more Columbo actors....
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful
All over the place; no plot, it wasnt even bad because to be bad you have to measure something of a scale. This isn't on a scale and doesn't deserve to even be on DVD
Published 6 months ago by Ava
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, but need to watch it twice
Gena Rowlands gives a powerful performance of a woman who ...well its easy to say she has mental problems as she flits between despair and euphoria, walks along lost in her own... Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2008 by Real Films Fan
4.0 out of 5 stars
John Cassavetes - a man of great emotion!
The first John Cassavetes film I ever saw was 'A Woman Under the Influence,' and I was gripped by it from the moment it started. Read more
Published on 21 May 2004 by F. V. L. Buliciri
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