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The Dead [1987]


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One of the most beautiful films ever made that will haunt you forever...
Review date: 2008-07-31 Rating: 10 out of 10


Certainly one of the greatest and most beautiful films ever made, and this is also one of the most outstanding films of modern movie making - and quite remarkable in that it was made as recent as 1987!

This gem opens like a Christmas Card, and has the appearance and style of a movie that could have been made many years ago! I remember seeing this for the first time when the only way to get to see a new movie was to rent it from a Video Store (before you could buy them) My mother and I had selected this title - not knowing why. We watched it together and you could hear a pin drop! I couldn't wait to purchase it when it came on general release!

So many of the cast is outstanding that it is difficult to name who is the best here (the poignancy of course being that now, just twenty years on, so many of this wonderful cast are now gone...) but Helena Carroll in particular is outstanding - not to mention of course Anjelica Huston. I believed at the time (and still do) that only one other actress I know of could have played the role of 'Gretta' as well, and I had the sheer delight of being able to tell her so myself, and that is Meg Wynn Owen (Hazel Bellamy - Upstairs, Downstairs) There are so many close-ups in this, and these kind of shots are extremely hard to do, but Meg is an expert at this kind of thing.

This is one Party I would have loved to have attended - the simple welcoming of the 'three graces' (as 'Gabriel' went on to name them some time into the story in his speech) who are all so loveable, and the singing, dancing, drinking and eating - wonderful!! Freddy is by far one of the most entertaining characters - marvellously played by Donal Donnelly, who has some humorous dialogue with the handsome 'Mr. Browne' (played by Dan O'Herlihy)

There is much talent in this; the startling recital of 'Broken Vows' by Sean McClory, and the tremendously talented Tenor, the late Frank Patterson who sings: 'The Lass Of Aughrim' which is a pivotal point in the film.

This film will have you in bursts of light laughter, and the next minute sniffling with tears... The whole film and story is beautifully summed up with the words and thoughts of the character 'Gabriel' after he and is wife arrive home, and the revelation of her thoughts during the evening are disclosed. This sort of melancholia so often accompanies us after such gatherings and celebrations.

Some great cinematography, beautifully filmed and shot with some golden scenes where John Huston gets the most out of such simple frames. A perfect example being the scene where 'Gretta' slips on her dainty shoes after arriving at her aunt's Party out of the snow.

This is definitely one of those great movies that would be a mistake to re-make - this will never be topped...

A million stars for this!!

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Reviews


One of the most beautiful films ever made that will haunt you forever...
Review date: 2008-07-31 Rating: 10 out of 10


Certainly one of the greatest and most beautiful films ever made, and this is also one of the most outstanding films of modern movie making - and quite remarkable in that it was made as recent as 1987!

This gem opens like a Christmas Card, and has the appearance and style of a movie that could have been made many years ago! I remember seeing this for the first time when the only way to get to see a new movie was to rent it from a Video Store (before you could buy them) My mother and I had selected this title - not knowing why. We watched it together and you could hear a pin drop! I couldn't wait to purchase it when it came on general release!

So many of the cast is outstanding that it is difficult to name who is the best here (the poignancy of course being that now, just twenty years on, so many of this wonderful cast are now gone...) but Helena Carroll in particular is outstanding - not to mention of course Anjelica Huston. I believed at the time (and still do) that only one other actress I know of could have played the role of 'Gretta' as well, and I had the sheer delight of being able to tell her so myself, and that is Meg Wynn Owen (Hazel Bellamy - Upstairs, Downstairs) There are so many close-ups in this, and these kind of shots are extremely hard to do, but Meg is an expert at this kind of thing.

This is one Party I would have loved to have attended - the simple welcoming of the 'three graces' (as 'Gabriel' went on to name them some time into the story in his speech) who are all so loveable, and the singing, dancing, drinking and eating - wonderful!! Freddy is by far one of the most entertaining characters - marvellously played by Donal Donnelly, who has some humorous dialogue with the handsome 'Mr. Browne' (played by Dan O'Herlihy)

There is much talent in this; the startling recital of 'Broken Vows' by Sean McClory, and the tremendously talented Tenor, the late Frank Patterson who sings: 'The Lass Of Aughrim' which is a pivotal point in the film.

This film will have you in bursts of light laughter, and the next minute sniffling with tears... The whole film and story is beautifully summed up with the words and thoughts of the character 'Gabriel' after he and is wife arrive home, and the revelation of her thoughts during the evening are disclosed. This sort of melancholia so often accompanies us after such gatherings and celebrations.

Some great cinematography, beautifully filmed and shot with some golden scenes where John Huston gets the most out of such simple frames. A perfect example being the scene where 'Gretta' slips on her dainty shoes after arriving at her aunt's Party out of the snow.

This is definitely one of those great movies that would be a mistake to re-make - this will never be topped...

A million stars for this!!

Slow movie with a perfect ending.
Review date: 2008-06-28 Rating: 6 out of 10

The last scene of "The Dead" includes a voice over by Donal McCann and just may be one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen. In retrospect it was the perfect way for John Huston to finish his long career. But before this scene, I found the movie challenging to sit through. The acting was superb but much like Huston's "Under the Volcano", the story seemed to meander along at a slow pace and and I lost my interest, hoping something would happen soon. My patience was rewarded in the last scene, but I think the movie would have been better as a short feature film (featurette) of perhaps 45 minutes. As it is, I can't give it more than 3 stars, but I'm still glad I saw it

Slow movie with a perfect ending
Review date: 2008-06-28 Rating: 6 out of 10

The last scene of "The Dead" includes a voice over by Donal McCann and just may be one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen. In retrospect it was the perfect way for John Huston to finish his long career. But before this scene, I found the movie challenging to sit through. The acting was superb but much like Huston's "Under the Volcano", the story seemed to meander along at a slow pace and and I lost my interest, hoping something would happen soon. My patience was rewarded in the last scene, but I think the movie would have been better as a short feature film (featurette) of perhaps 45 minutes. As it is, I can't give it more than 3 stars, but I'm still glad I saw it, and it should be on DVD.

Irish Aunts and a deceptively simple tale
Review date: 2006-12-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

Like all great stories, and great films for that matter, THE DEAD is anything but simple. The layers are seemingly endless, like the skin of an onion. Filled with richly drawn and beautifully played characters, the late John Huston's last film is a fitting tribute both to Ireland and to James Joyce, whose story is translated to the screen with the kind of sensitivity that is not too often to be found in the cinema.
Taking as its central point an annual party given by Miss Kate and Miss Julia, two elderly Dubliners, this is a gentle drama of small folk, their lives and loves, their triumphs and tragedies.
No incident in the film changes the world, but the people in it are those who are for all time, and anyone viewing 'The Dead'
cannot fail to be moved by it.
(A recent reviewer on the radio regretted that she had first seen the film before she was old enough fully to appreciate it. Older and wiser, she was in raptures over the recent re-release.)
This minimalist classic, similar in many ways to my own personal favourite, 'Babette's Feast', must surely rank high in the list of movie greats.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Donal McCann
Dan O'Herlihy
Anjelica Huston
Donal Donnelly
Helena Carroll

Creators:
Anjelica Huston (Primary Contributor)
Donal McCann (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Network
Manufacturer: Network
EAN: 5027626243241
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-04-10
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1987-09-16
Language: English (Original Language)

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