The Hemingway Play

This is an incredible production and a wonderful play. It's a shame it's not out on video. In it we see the four stages of Ernest Hemingway: the wounded boy back from WWI, the 1920's Paris writer, the middle aged safari hunter and "Papa" Hemingway. They and their entourages meet and mingle in a fascinating look at the writer and the people in his life. It is touching and very adult in the handling of its characters. Basically a stage play on video, the production values and overall casting are very high.

I first saw The Hemingway Play on PBS back in the seventies, before the network went all "politically correct" and still aired good plays, old and new, on a regular basis. Written by the relatively unknown Frederic Hunter, it tells of the life and loves of the great and often troubled American novelist Ernest Hemingway. We see Hemingway as a young man, eager and idealistic; a middle-aged man, cynical but still optimistic; and as an old man, depressed and defeated. His complicated relationships with women are highlighted rather than his artistic accomplishments, but I don't consider this a flaw, as this is not what the author had set out to do. The play is about Hemingway the man, and a fascinating man he was; so gifted and yet so flawed; so profoundly troubled; and in the end so like all of us, just a human being, passing through his life, full of ups and downs, fears and desires.

The very fine cast includes Tim Matheson, Samantha Eggar and Alexander Scourby, among several other gifted players. There are no bad performances. Don Taylor's direction gives full rein to the actors. I wish there were more plays like this on television, on PBS, cable, anywhere. It's a memorable and moving piece, and I remember it vividly almost thirty years after it was first broadcast.

Amazon has a service where they can use video on demand via printing on a DVD-R. I saw this with a few DVDs that are not available here in the US.

I hope they can do this with this play.

Like many of you, I found that this was a profoundly interesting play with many of life's lessons that can be mined.

Combined with first rate acting and a great idea that was well executed, it is a shame this effort does not have wider release.

If I can see again a performance for one last time before I die (many more years down the line I hope) I want to see this again.

Of all the movies that I want to see again, this movie is the one I want to see the most. The dialogue is first rate and the story is both subtle and moving. It moved me and that was the first time that I wished I had a VCR. It is my fondest hope that this film be re-released.

I remember seeing "The Hemingway Play" on Hollywood Television Theater on KCET TV in LA. Saw in a few times as it was repeated during that year. My best friend Jeff and I called each other when we knew it was going to be on. I was familiar with a few of the actors in the production.

Ever since then I have tried to find a copy of it. Not knowing who wrote in was the main problem. I even mentioned it to Tim Matheson last year. He lives in Santa Barbara. After a SB Film Festival event ( where he interviewed Felicity Huffman on stage after showing "Transamerica") I had an opportunity to meet him outside and mentioned the play. He was taken back saying that goes way back and he didn't remember who wrote it. Thankfully there is the internet!.

If I can find a copy I believe it would be an excellent idea to do it on stage. With Matheson directing or even in one of the older parts. Any info on where to find a copy?