Who Am I This Time?

[DG]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 6:58pm

For those who know about this little gem, it has finally been released on DVD. For those who don’t, it was an American Playhouse television special filmed in 1982 (it’s only 56 minutes long.) Based on a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and directed by Jonathan Demme, it stars Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon.

Walken plays a painfully shy young man who works as a clerk at a hardware store in ‘any small town’ USA. But his shyness disappears completely whenever he stars in the community theatre’s productions, which he does repeatedly. Sarandon plays a lonely young lady who travels from town to town helping businesses set up their new phone systems. At the request of the director, she reluctantly auditions for this little theatre’s production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, and ends up playing Stella opposite Walken’s Stanley.

While primarily a look at the developing relationship between these two ‘outsider’ souls, it is also a loving postcard about the wonderful quirkiness of community theatre – and the transformative power it can have in people’s lives.

Updated On: 7/11/08 at 06:58 PM

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 7:14pm

I had never heard of this, but now I can't wait to see it. Thanks!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 7:15pm

I never realized this was done for American Playhouse. I love the short story and used to teach it in my theater classes before I came to The Mecca of Education, where teaching it would be like casting pearls before swine.

[DG]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:32pm

It's interesting to see these two actors at that point in their careers. Ms. Sarandon was coming off of KING OF THE GYPSIES, PRETTY BABY, and ATLANTIC CITY - in other words, she was a hot rising star. And Mr. Walken had followed up THE DEER HUNTER with the disappointments HEAVEN'S GATE and PENNIES FROM HEAVEN. In both cases, though, they were young striving actors who were still very much in the business of establishing themselves based on their burgeoning popularity. And, I might add, their chemistry is palpable. Their recreation of a scene between Stella and Stanley has real sparks!

WW - it is so lovingly and beautifully done - I highly recommend it.

DP - You should reintroduce it to your classes by showing the movie - at the very least, they'll be kept busy for a bit (the retired teacher I live with referred to it as 'wetting their lips and sticking them to the screen.)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:56pm

Showing movies to my classes means "standing shotgun" beside the TV to make sure that all the boys remain zipped up and no one is ingesting questionable substances.

I'm not kidding. This is the worst year I've had in 35 years of teaching--and it's only October!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:57pm

How old are these boys?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:58pm

15.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 9:01pm

When I was 15, I would never have thought of doing "that" in school. The Nuns did not raise me that way.

[DG]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:46am

The other future Oscar winner, director Jonathan Demme, doesn't seem to have made quite as much impact at that point in time. He had done Melvin and Howard, but that's about it. In fact, his whole career has been, shall we say, sparse. He just doesn't seem to work that much.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:32pm

Love this movie! We watched it in my intro to theatre class freshman year. (Long before I decided to become a theatre major. It was a required liberal arts class.)

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:47pm

and it's very reasonable here...

www.deepdiscountdvd.com

Updated On: 10/9/06 at 03:47 PM

[DG]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:52pm

Glad someone had heard of it, Son - and liked it.

Boobs - I think you'll really like it. It speaks so sweetly of simpler life, and of the strength that can lie beneath fragility.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:53pm

DG...I already ordered it from your recommendation...you know I love anything about community theater.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:16pm

Added to my netflix cue...

[fflagg]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 7:52pm

I saw this on Channel 13 when it aired and it is really great. Highly recommended.

[DG]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 2:29am

Bump - for the night owls.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 7:43am

Oh wow...I had completely forgotten about this movie until now. Thanks, DG!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 12:19pm

Oh. I thought this was a thread about Draco Malfoy.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 12:46pm

Fabulous.

[DG]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:13am

Shared this with my brother last night, and he loved it. Just thought I'd bump the thread for those who don't know about it.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:14am

Oh, this little film is very sweet. I loved it!

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:44am

This is one of my favs!!!