A ruthless look at the shattering effect of grief, it has the power to haunt. But Showtime’s incarnation of “The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone” rings truer to the original text than the acclaimed theatrical version in 1961 starring Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty, with screenwriter Martin Sherman and director Robert Allan Ackerman proving themselves worthy caretakers. And Mirren: fearless to let her age show through at every turn, juxtiposed against the firm flesh of the young Martinez. (It's hard to believe we've just lost this great actress, who always put so much fire in her performances without ever losing sight of the characters she played.) Tragically, it is the freedom her new life affords her that ultimately binds her to her fate. The film follows the odyssey of Karen Stone, an actress who loses her husband to a heart attack. Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013. Be that as it may, the remake has one thing going for it that the original did not: Olivier Martinez, who is infinitely more believable as an Italian gigolo than the handsome-but-not-very-believable-as-an-Italian Warren Beatty. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone is a 2003 American-Irish made-for-television romantic drama film and a remake of the 1961 film of the same name based on the 1950 novel of the same title by Tennessee Williams Plot. Much more complex than original in early 60's with Warren Beaty and Vivien Leigh, probably due to censorship at the time. Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015. Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television - Helen Mirren. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, See all details for The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. That's what gives her performance the real punch. Martinez strikes a nice balance between seductive and sympathetic as the contradictory Paolo. Helen Mirren, Olivier Martinez and Anne Bancroft do the material justice. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone was created on 1961-12-28. I love Tennessee Williams and was thrilled that this remake is as good if not better...because of Helen Mirren. Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2018. It was shot on location in Dublin and Rome. There's a problem loading this menu right now. This later version has stunning scenes filmed in many beautiful Roman locations. She stays on. Stone has written: 'Prattville First Baptist Church' The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone might well qualify. The set design, the costumes, the overall look-and-feel of the movie really set the viewer into Rome in the 1950's. The plot is well organized and entertaining. The Williams novella is actually improved upon, yet it retains his wonderful "language". Did it win any awards? The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone Accurately interpreting a Tennessee Williams story is as delicate as Blanche Dubois' ego -- manhandle either one and it crumbles from misuse. it is a very glossy version of a rather sad story that deals with the problem of wealthy widowed or single people past their prime but seeking love and company and then being open to being used by others .As I am a rich widower , I know the feeling and Vivian Leigh played the part much better .In fact only Warren Beaty was a little out of his depth in the Vivian leigh version ..all the other players were , in my opinion, far superior. So, Mirren's obsession with gigolo Martinez plays its sad course, leaving us with the same ambiguous ending of the 1961 version. Accurately interpreting a Tennessee Williams story is as delicate as Blanche Dubois' ego -- manhandle either one and it crumbles from misuse. Bancroft does a wonderful job with this part made famous by Lotte Lenya. She makes the acquaintance of the Contessa (Bancroft), a former Italian aristocrat who, after losing her family fortune during the war, barely scrapes together a living by introducing lonely American women to handsome young Italians. The Roman spring of Mrs Stone is a cathartic experience in many ways. There are plenty of nude scenes so you’ll see their bodies quite clearly. 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[4], "Tv Weekend; Tennessee Williams's Rome, in Gritty Sepia", Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Roman_Spring_of_Mrs._Stone_(2003_film)&oldid=979669901, Films based on works by Tennessee Williams, Pages using infobox television with editor parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Outstanding Directing: Robert Allan Ackerman, Outstanding Costumes: Dona Granata (costume designer) and Gill Howard (assistant costume designer), Nomination for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. The empty, unfulfilling, preyed-upon lives of the wealthy, Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2020. Karen falls for him in part because he shares a good deal of her stubborn pride. The only glimpses of Rome in that earlier film are some second unit shots of a woman, obviously not Vivien Leigh, walking aimlessly through the city. It most certainly was not . The film follows the odyssey of Karen Stone, an actress who loses her husband to a heart attack. The screenplay was written by Martin Sherman, based on the Tennessee Williams novel. The film offers a perspective on how she deals with the younger man and shows a glimpse of what her future holds for her. [3][1] Variety noted that he "distills the essence of the story — a repressed woman’s sexual awakening — into a provocative piece that relies as much on visuals as it does narrative. Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2018. Hardly the poster woman for fading beauty, Mirren projects a certain amount of power and respect, even as the somewhat tenuous Karen. This film is about a movie actress who realizes that she's getting older and her latest role was skewed by the critics. This version is much, much better than the original that starred Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty. In Rome, she meets a contessa and another man with other romantic intentions and interests that have nothing to do with Mrs. The screenplay by Martin Sherman is first rate. Mirren is extrordinary. Her acting is subtle and you are slowly presented with the changes occurring inside of her that she (as the character) needs to make because she no longer will be able to make a living acting. Oliver Martinez is OK in the part, but he's way too good looking for the part and personally, I don't think he's such a good actor. Stone” explores several of the writer’s favorite themes including the fragility of the human psyche vs. the undeniable will for survival as well as splendor and decay amid fading youth and beauty. Her scenery chewing is always top-drawer and appropriate. Anne Bancroft ruined it for me with her over-the-top acting. This film is excellent entertainment in the hands of a cast of real pros. Instead, Karen maneuvers Paolo into a traditional courtship dance, sidestepping any requests for money. Without giving away too much of the plot, she winds up having an affair with a much younger man (Oliver Martinez) who is obviously with her because she has money.