Duo pour une soliste

I was surprised this disappeared the way it did and that Julie Andrews did not receive an Academy Award nomination. It's a tough uncompromising depiction of what it's like for someone who is losing control physically and starts to lose it emotionally as well. The scene in the back of the car where Andrews and Alan Bates argue and he goes that one step too far is unlike any personal altercation I can recall seeing on film. I found the film totally engrossing and very moving.

Julie Andrews did a remarkable job playing the character of Stephanie Anderson in this movie. She did a great job of expressing the trial and tribulations that stephanie anderson goes through as she copes with MS. Great Job Julie! You deserved an Oscar for your performance!

...and also make a nonsense of your title. The film is based on a stage play, which is so called because, although a two-hander, it is much closer to being a one-woman show. The stage version was produced for BBC Television with Frances De La Tour, the original star, and is much more worth watching than this sentimentalised claptrap. For one thing, when in a magnificent outburst she attempts to shock the psychiatrist by admitting that she has been "f***ing a totter", part of the power of this is by your wondering what is going on in the head of this refined and cultural woman, for her to be taking a dirty Steptoe-like rag and bone man into her bed. The point is completely lost if you *show* the totter, and what is more cast Liam Neeson in the part!

Kempinski remained on the credits as the screenwriter, so it seems he only has himself to blame for this utter emasculation of what was really an excellent play, loosely based on the shattering loss of Jacqueline Du Pré's art, career and normal life to multiple sclerosis.

Have loved Julie Andrews from an early age, having grown up on 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Sound of Music'. Both of which are still favourites. Max Von Sydow has always struck me as an amazing actor, his acting intense but also understated when needed which is some of my favourite type of acting. Am a lover of classical music and having seen what multiple schlerosis does to people the story on paper struck a chord with me (pardon the pun).

While 'Duet for One' is not my definition of a masterpiece or a film exempt from flaws, to me it is a very good film deserving of more credit, rather than being deserving of its near-obscure status. Also consider it a quite brave and powerful film and it is easily one of Andrews' best forays into more dramatic repertoire. If it is not everybody's cup of tea though, that is fine by me. It is not an easy watch by any stretch and anybody who watches a film expecting likeable characters all the time are best looking elsewhere.

Part of me really does wish that Feldman's character was a more interesting character than a callous caricature. Von Sydow does do a great job with what he was given, which is indicative of a true professional and a justly esteemed actor.

Although the music on the most part is great, some of it is a little on the saccharine side. MS is portrayed hard-hittingly and movingly, but it is also not the most balanced or most sympathetic portrayal at the same time.

On the other hand, 'Duet for One' has many fine things. It is not filmed in an overblown way, nor does it look static or too filmed play-like, with it being a film adaptation of a play. While not all the music completely worked, the music itself is great and will be a treat for classical music lovers. Andrei Konchalovsky's direction is sympathetic while not being stagy, some of his best work in one of his better films but sadly it is direction and a film that isn't appreciated enough. The script is thoughtful and doesn't get too sentimental or patronising.

'Duet for One's' story is in no way easy to get one's head round emotionally, it's quite harrowing but it is also very powerful and poignant. Just prepare for a non-easy watch. The back of the car confrontation is as hard-hitting a confrontation as one can get on film. The characters are purposefully not likeable ones and some are more interesting than others, while Stephanie is a very meaty characters others like Feldman are caricatures, but they don't ever bore or annoy as such. Von Sydow does fine with what he has and Alan Bates manages to achieve the difficult feat of making surly affecting. The film though belongs to Andrews, in the best easily of her dramatic performances in a gripping and incredibly moving, without being melodramatic, turn.

Summing up, not flawless but very good on the whole and hits one hard emotionally. 7.5/10

"I'm in this chair because I've got multiple sclerosis," thunders Julie Andrews (as Stephanie) to her shrink - rather a caricature - Max von Sydow. There is anger, there is bitterness, there is a resignation, there is a sense of loss, a sense of frustration and an understated (and unstated) acknowledgement that we all die alone...

In one line, Ms Andrews displays a depth to her dramatic performance not yet seen by viewers. I remember some rather disparaging comments being made about this casting (as well as for 84 Charing Cross Road, released in the same time frame as Duet for One). Most of these were aimed at the casting of Julie Andrews in a pivotal dramatic role.

Understandable, perhaps, as Julie Andrews *is* better known as a musical star (though cannot make any more musical films)and is seen as either Mary Poppins or Maria von Trapp. In reality, Ms Andrews has made more non-musical films than musical films.

Duet for One, though, was a departure from other roles: this film is kept alive only by the performance of Julie Andrews -- the other characters are merely 'supporting' characters. Julie Andrews does what she has done in previous musical films: she takes centre stage.

Her performance is absolutely brilliant -- she received two Golden Globe nominations as Lead Actress in one year (1986): For drama, 'Duet for One'; for comedy/musical, 'That's Life.'

I saw both in London in 1987. Julie Andrews, it seemed by overwhelming critical responses, had 'come of age'. Her performances were measured, realistic and gritty: and even with the subject matter of Duet for One, never diminishes into audience-pleasing wallowing sympathy.

I do think that Julie Andrews has been a much-cheated actress: audiences do not seem to *want* her to be more than a musical star. She has great comic timing (such a pity that there never was a vehicle to exploit this talent). In 'Duet for One', she convinces that she can act: she is in control, but a weighty script, uneven directing and blurred focus helped this movie to sink.

And again, an excellent performance is not seen by a large number of people. There is gritty, gutsy work and Julie Andrews *should* have been nominated for an Academy Award (rather than a strange nomination to Jane Fonda for 'The Morning After'.

This film is not good ('Hilary and Jacky' is much better) but the lead performance is outstanding. If you get a chance, see it. For Julie Andrews' work and some fine classical music, outstandingly weaved into the soundtrack in background and foreground, it's stunning.

And there are interesting supporting cast vignettes too, notably those of Liam Neeson and Cathryn Harrison.

A great pity that this film has diluted its original play so much, but it's still worth seeing.