A renowned actress teeters on the edge of a breakdown as she counts down the days toward a big Broadway opening.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gena Rowlands | ... |
Myrtle Gordon
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| John Cassavetes | ... |
Maurice Aarons
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| Ben Gazzara | ... |
Manny Victor
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| Joan Blondell | ... |
Sarah Goode
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| Paul Stewart | ... |
David Samuels
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| Zohra Lampert | ... |
Dorothy Victor
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| Laura Johnson | ... |
Nancy Stein
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| John Tuell | ... |
Gus Simmons
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Ray Powers | ... |
Jimmy
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| John Finnegan | ... |
Bobby
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| Louise Lewis | ... |
Kelly
(as Louise Fitch)
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| Fred Draper | ... |
Leo
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Katherine Cassavetes | ... |
Vivian
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Lady Rowlands | ... |
Melva Drake
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Carol Warren | ... |
Carla
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Briana Carver | ... |
Lena
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Angelo Grisanti | ... |
Charlie Spikes
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Meade Roberts | ... |
Eddie Stein
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Eleanor Zee | ... |
Sylvia Stein
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| David Rowlands | ... |
Doorman
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Sharon Van Ivan | ... |
Shirley
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Jimmy Christie | ... |
News Stand Operator
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| James Karen | ... |
Bellboy
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Jimmy Joyce | ... |
Bartender
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| Sherry Bain | ... |
Barmaid
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Sylvia Davis Shaw | ... |
Hotel Maid
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Peter Lampert | ... |
Maitre d'
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Josh Becker | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Peter Bogdanovich | ... |
Peter Bogdanovich (uncredited)
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| Seymour Cassel | ... |
Seymour Cassel (uncredited)
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Robert Dassanowsky | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Peter Falk | ... |
Peter Falk (uncredited)
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Jana Howard | ... |
Young Girl (uncredited)
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| Ronisue Kiser | ... |
Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
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William Kramer | ... |
Rabbi (uncredited)
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| Patrick Labyorteaux | ... |
Child Actor Playing Vito (uncredited)
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Robert Leader | ... |
Larry Stein (uncredited)
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| Naomi Stevens | ... |
Crying Mourner (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Cassavetes | ||
Written by
| John Cassavetes | ... | () |
Produced by
| Mike Lally | ... | associate producer (as Michael Lally) |
| Al Ruban | ... | producer |
| Sam Shaw | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Bo Harwood | ||
Cinematography by
| Al Ruban | ||
Editing by
| Tom Cornwell | ||
Editorial Department
| Kathleen Barker | ... | post-production |
| Kent Beyda | ... | assistant editor |
| Hal Bowers | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Prometheus Patient | ||
Production Design by
| Bryan Ryman | ||
Art Direction by
| Bryan Ryman | ... | (as Brian Ryman) |
Costume Design by
| Aleka Corwin | ... | (as Alexandra Corwin-Hankin) |
Makeup Department
| Susan A. Cabral | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Edward Ledding | ... | production manager (as Ted Lenning) |
| Foster H. Phinney | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Lisa Hallas-Gottlieb | ... | second assistant director (as Lisa Hallas) |
Art Department
| Verna Bagby | ... | chief set construction |
| Richard Upper | ... | graphic artist |
| Robert Vehon | ... | property master |
| Abraham Zwick | ... | set construction assistant |
| Richard Upper | ... | main title design (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Crew Chamberlain | ... | boom operator |
| Bo Harwood | ... | sound |
| Joanne T. Harwood | ... | sound assistant |
| Bill Varney | ... | sound mixer |
| Joe Woo Jr. | ... | sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Jaime Fernandez | ... | rainmaker (uncredited) |
| Conrad Rothmann | ... | special effects crew (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Donna Garrett | ... | stunts |
| Victor Paul | ... | stunt driver |
| Charlie Picerni | ... | stunt driver (as Charles Picerni) |
| Victor Paul | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Charlie Picerni | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Pat Don Aroma | ... | best boy |
| Larry Baughman | ... | best boy |
| Catherine E. Coulson | ... | assistant camera |
| Donne Daniels | ... | gaffer |
| Larry Dean | ... | best boy |
| Frederick Elmes | ... | camera operator |
| Michael Ferris | ... | camera operator |
| Emmett O'Connell | ... | best boy |
| Joseph L. Rezwin | ... | gaffer |
| Son Robinson | ... | gaffer |
| Richard Ross | ... | gaffer |
| Jed Skillman | ... | assistant camera |
| Richard Upper | ... | still photographer |
| Dave Walker | ... | best boy |
| R. Michael Stringer | ... | additional photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Charles Akins | ... | wardrober |
| Miles Ciletti | ... | wardrober |
Location Management
| Jack Krupnick | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Lee Houskeeper | ... | musical consultant |
| Booker T. Jones | ... | conductor / music arranger / musical director |
Script and Continuity Department
| Tom Cornwell | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Robert Bogdanoff | ... | production assistant |
| Esme Chandlee | ... | publicist |
| Arlene Harris | ... | production secretary |
| Michelle Hart | ... | production secretary |
| Susan Howell | ... | production accountant |
| Adria Later | ... | teacher/welfare worker |
| Eve Siegel | ... | publicist |
| Teresa Stokovic | ... | production coordinator |
| Sharon Van Ivan | ... | assistant to producer |
| Raymond Vellucci | ... | production assistant |
| Rick Schmidlin | ... | production assistant (uncredited) / production runner (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Harland Sanders | ... | thanks (as Colonel Sanders) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Faces Distribution (1977) (United States) (theatrical)
- Miracle Films (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Film & Teater (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Impegno Cinematografico (1979) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Cinematrix (1990) (Japan) (theatrical)
- AFMD (1992) (France) (theatrical)
- Touchstone Home Video (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Starz / Anchor Bay (1999) (United States) (VHS) (For Castle Hill)
- The Criterion Collection (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Indaco Pictures (2005) (Italy)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD) (John Cassavetes Collection)
- BFI Video (2013) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Bibliotheque (2021) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Leopardo Filmes (2022) (Portugal)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinemobile System (location services)
- Gagi of Rome (men's wardrobe)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- Samuel Goldwyn Studios (sound re-recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A young woman gets killed in an accident trying to meet her favorite actress Myrtle Gordon after a play. Then Myrtle Gordon felt responsible for the killing leading her down to an emotional crisis that interferes with her professional work as an actress.
Written by Chemi González |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | In a 1978 television interview, Cassavetes said this was the best film he had anything to do with. See more » |
| Goofs | A bus rolls by the New Haven theater with an ad for KBIG FM 104, a Los Angeles station. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Other People's Money/Ernest Scared Stupid/City of Hope/Life Is Sweet (1991). See more » |
| Quotes |
Maurice Aarons:
I thought that small talk was too small, I thought big talk was too pretentious, I thought music was noise, and I thought art was bullshit. See more » |