Studs Lonigan

I started making my way through James T. Farrell immense body of works with my reading of the Studs Lonigan trilogy in 1973. Over the years I gone back countless time to reread about the rise and fall of Studs Lonigan and his old gang on 58th Street in Chicago. I would say that Farrell had a very strong impact upon my life. I am a fellow Irish-American and lapsed Catholic like Farrell. We also share a common surname. I was exchanging letters with James when this mini-series first aired, and did prefer it over the original film version. Unfortunately, he died shortly after the mini-series aired. His world view was relentless bleak, and I think he believed it was justified because life is relentlessly bleak for most people.

This is a fine adaptation of one of the great Depression Era novels, rivaling The Grapes of Wrath. Harry Hamlin gives a believable portrayal of Studs but he is a bit too old to be seen in knickers playing Studs as an 11 year old youth. The final 2 episodes are earth shattering and worthy of this review. In fact I was so moved by the finale that I became a confirmed alcoholic to experience the rough times Studs experienced. I am now a bum in the Bowery but they still call me Fungo. i suppose that Hamlin was quite adequate for the part but his mothers portrayal by Colleen Dewhurst was vivid and honest. Dewhurst was subsequently seen in the Sean Connery film Outland where she portrayed a lady scientist who eventually decides to aid Connery in taking down the boss of this outer space mining colony.

Studs Lonigan is a great miniseries! All star cast with Charles Durning, Colleen Dewhurst, Harry Hamiln, etc. I love this and looked for it for almost 40 years. Until May 2018 - when I FOUND IT available at DVD Planet Store. Not cheap, but WORTH IT!! Glad to finally have it in my movie collecttion!

If you have never seen this mini-series, you have never watched "Studs Lonigan". The 1960 film was a hack job. If you've read the book, you'll find the story is still altered. But Harry Hamlin does well as Studs. It's engrossing to watch his life unfold and the end is classic. This mini-series caused me to pick up and read the trilogy. I only wish this were available on VHS. If you know how to find a copy, let me know. thanks.