Long Day's Journey Into Night

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

To have such a powerful play given the full treatment by a stellar black cast headed by the INCOMPARABLE Ruby Dee constitutes theatrical orgasm of the highest order!!! I am STILL looking for this version EVERYWHERE but of course only the Hepburn version is readily available. Katharine was flawless as usual but so is Miss Ruby Dee who I had absolutely NO DOUBT could EASILY handle the role and she did not disappoint! If you get a chance to see this version, SEE THIS VERSION! Totally holds up to the original and makes the play all the more universal. Hopefully it will be released on DVD eventually as this performance should be available.

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.

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.