|
|
List Price: $29.95Amazon.com's Price: $26.99 You Save: $2.96 (10%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Now!
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0759259140479
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Water Bearer Films, Inc
Manufacturer: Water Bearer Films, Inc
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Water Bearer Films, Inc
Region Code: 1
Release Date: February 24, 2004
Running Time: 105 minutes
Sales Rank: 69002
Studio: Water Bearer Films, Inc
Theatrical Release Date: 1977
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
ABIGAIL'S PARTY features Beverly (Alison Steadman) a bitingly funny hostess of a dainty evening party at which her husband has the ultimate bad taste of having a heart attack on her new living room carpet. Unable to decide which is more important, her dying husband or her new, very expensive, carpet, Abigail must come to terms with where her true priorities lay. One of Mike Leigh's greatest works, ABIGAIL'S PARTY reaches a moment when the unbearable and hopeless fuse to create an explosion of incredible humor and tremendous insight into the state of human affairs.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A Scorcher
I absolutely love this movie/play. I once saw a very good stage production in New York, but nothing beats seeing Alison Steadman playing the monstrous Beverly ruling her roost.
It's a not-terribly-kind portrayal of suburban angst and tension among the classes in Britain circa the Queen's Jubilee.
Every scene boils with subtext, and you are gripping your seat wondering how this tinderbox will explode.
Very black comedy, and very astute about the rage and pain ... Read More
Rating: - Abigail's Party
Based on a theater play produced for the BBC, Leigh's dark-humored situational farce examines a group of people feebly attempting to have a good time although they are all secretly miserable. As Beverly, Steadman (wife of the director) is aggressively jolly and controlling, not to mention drunk and openly flirtatious with Salthouse's simmering Tony. For every awkward moment, another drink is poured. This is an ensemble piece, and the interplay between the five actors, confined to a single living-room ... Read More
Rating: - Abigal's Party
Awesome play. Saw it in London 2x. The DVD is nearly as enjoyable as the live performance.
Storyline reminds me a lot of Who's Affraid of Virginia Wolf.
Rating:  - Small mind at work
This film and 'Life is Sweet' (I haven't seen any other Mike Leigh films) gave me a creeping feeling in my stomach. Mainly this was caused by the sheer stupidity of his working class characters. And I mean stupid - this is the fundamental message of these films, that working class people are thick. This stupidity leads to emotional crudeness and a total lack of warmth. I grew up in a working class family in London and this is not my main experience of the people. Yes, they could be direct (thank God!) ... Read More
Rating:  - 5 Starts to Mike Leigh, 1 star to DVD
the conversation is purposely dull, yet it indeed sounds funny. this is the mike leigh's magic. the only disappointment about this piece is that the quality of the image is really poor. it feels like playing the video tape upon the vcr of 20 years of age. this, in a way, does make you feel like you are watching a 70's programme, perhaps.
|
|
