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Iceman Cometh, The
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(DVD - Code 1) (US-Import)
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The American FiIm Theatre
One of the few stiII undiscovered treasures of American 70's cinema, John Frankenheimer's masterful interpretation of Eugene O'NeiII's The lceman Cometh stands not only as the greatest achievement of the distinguished American Film Theatre project, but also as one of the singIe richest cinematic re-imaginings of any American pIay. Near the end of his brilIiant and varied career, director Frankenheimer singIed out the littIe known Iceman as "the best creative experience l ever had."
ln the faded light of Harry Hope's 1912 New York skid row bar, a rag tag group of fallen men, each like a ghost haunting the wreckage of his own Iife, await the annual arrivaI of Hickey . This year, however, the charismatic Hickey brings not the usual rounds of drinks and pats on the back, but the unweIcome news that he's off the sauce for good and has come to persuade Hope's drunks to do the same. One by one, the regulars' booz-basted pipe dreams come under Hickey's leering microscope untiI finaIIy the most shocking self-deception turns out to be Hickey's own.
Academy Award winner Fredric March leads an aII-star dream cast in a finaI performance that the L.A. Times declared, "quite simply, perfect." Roger Ebert described Robert Ryan's characterization of Hickey's anarchist nemesis as "possibIy the best of his distinguished career." But, Iceman beIongs to Lee Marvin, stepping out of the tough guy roles that made him a star into a haunting portrayal of the madman that hides beneath the smiling face of the life of the party. |
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