SOOO much talking. I know this started as a play by Russian Chekov , but wow. so much talking and complaining. It starts with reflecting on everyday life, and complaining about the visitors staying at the house, and how lazy they are. Franchot Tone starred, directed, AND produced this.... showing us life in the country through the eyes of this family. (Did you know Tone had been married to Joan Crawford for a few years, way back when ?) Tone is in his fifties here, and wears the years of experience. George Voskovec is the hypochondriac "Vanya", who says he is old, and knows it. He and his wife bicker, endlessly. Chekov's writing was to show normal people doing everyday normal things, like bickering over little stuff. Nothing terribly exciting going on for most of the film.. then, towards the end...things kind of boil over. Then... all is calm again. Chekov died of TB in 1904, quite young. Fortunately he left a treasure trove of writing for us to enjoy. This one moves pretty slowly, as a play-turned-film. But it IS by Chekov, if you have the patience.
Review of Uncle Vanya
