Sadly Over-hyped

Instant Favorite.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Don't be fooled by the other positive reviews. It's shocking how so many talented people could so egregiously misunderstand Chekhov and his intentions in this play. He wrote a comedy (despite the shocking ending); a satire on artistic pretensions, artists, and those who refuse to take responsibility for their lives and actions. This film succumbs to every cliché about the gloominess and static inertia that Chekhov supposedly deals in. Despite some efforts that aren't half-bad (Mason isn't bad, but is decades too old, and Redgrave tries her best), this film never misses an opportunity to take a misstep and do exactly the wrong thing. In a word, awful.

Filled with excellent performances and moved smoothly off the stage to the outdoors Sidney Lumet's interpretation of Anton Chekov's The Seagull is an impressive transition to celluloid. Told in a languid low key with minimal but effective camera movement Lumet with patient deliberation slowly builds the play to its powerful climax without hardly ever raising its voice.Aging prima donna Arkadina (Simone Signoret) and Trigorin (James mason) a well known writer visit the estate of her brother where her son Konstantin (David Warner) is attempting to hone his trade as a writer. Along with Nina (Vanessa Redgrave) , a neighbor he's in love with he put's on a dramatization of his work for assorted guests. Self absorbed as the family is Konstantin's work receives little attention or credit. Nina in turn falls heavy for Trigorin who is more than willing to see her on the side. Years pass and lives have changed but Konstantin struggles on with little or no interest from anyone as the group is once again brought together in the final act.The Seagull is a lengthy melancholy piece of theater that in the wrong hands can be a drudgery to get through but Lumet moves his cast about like a skilled chess player, each and every one fleshing out their character with an intense subtlety. I hesitate to single out performers since all hit their marks perfectly but Vanessa Redgrave gives an an outstanding performance saving her best for last as the hopelessly romantic Nina while conversely Denholm Elliot as the most self aware member of the group maintains a low key despair that is every bit as effective. There are plenty of films that employ great writers, excellent directors and superb actors that often times (Catch 22, for example) collapses under the weight of all its talent. The Seagull is a fine example of how well it works when all the pieces fit.

Years ago I went to a production of The Cherry Orchard in which a friend of mine was appearing. Watching The Sea Gull today I was struck by the fact that once again Chekhov used a rural setting for a play with a group of characters away from the hustle and bustle of Russian urban life.That's where it ends though. In The Cherry Orchard the group were aristocrats who were bemoaning the fact that revolutionary forces were getting a bit close to home and they might have to leave their well ordered lives for health reasons. Here they're celebrities of sort, possible aristocrats within their own set. Two of them have followings. One is James Mason a writer of some note although he freely admits he has not the acclaim of a Tolstoy. The other is Simone Signoret a noted actress of the day who also has not the acclaim of a Sarah Bernhardt or an Eleanora Duse.Like Bernhardt, Signoret has a son in David Warner who can't find his place in the world or I should say her world because circumstances dictate he be part of it. He's hopelessly in love with the neighbor's girl Vanessa Redgrave. She in turn would like to be an actress, but more than that would like to be a groupie for James Mason whom she regards with awe. She gets her wish.As for the celebrities there's a lot less to Mason and Signoret than meets the eye. It ends badly for the younger generation.Years before the mid 20th Century Chekhov discovered and wrote about the cult of celebrity. The film itself has some dull spots and Sidney Lumet has done better with more modern subjects. Still the cast is great and the best accolades go to David Warner whose character revolves the story The Sea Gull.

I am Russian and this is almost the best "Seagull" I've ever seen. Period.Everything looks lively and natural. Sometimes Chekhov's plays when staged give you a sense of irreality and feel unnatural, but Lumet's "Seagull" really can make you feel the essence of Chekhov's drama and even explain its popularity if Chekhov is not your favourite writer. Costumes and everything else - houses, furniture etc. - are beautiful and authentic, something you rarely can expect from an American movie about Russia. The only real disadvantage, to my mind, were love scenes in the first part of the movie, - they were absolutely out of place here and presumed a reading of certain scenes the author never thought of.