| Tempest | |
|---|---|
) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul Mazursky |
| Produced by | Paul Mazursky Steven Bernhardt Pato Guzman |
| Screenplay by | Leon Capetanos Paul Mazursky |
| Based on | the play The Tempest by Wm. Shakespeare |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Stomu Yamashta |
| Cinematography | Donald McAlpine |
| Edited by | Donn Cambern |
Production company | Columbia Pictures |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 142 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $13 million |
| Box office | $5,005,245[1] |
Tempest is a 1982 American south seas adventure comedy-drama romance film directed by Paul Mazursky. It is a loosely based, modern-day adaptation of the William Shakespeare play The Tempest. The picture features John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon, Raúl Juliá and Molly Ringwald in her feature film debut.[2]
Plot
Phillip Dimitrius is a middle-aged New York City architect who is going through a difficult mid-life crisis.
After learning that his wife Antonia has been having an affair, Dimitrius leaves New York City and moves to a Greek island with his teenage daughter, Miranda. In Athens he meets Aretha Tomalin, a singer, and they become lovers. Mysteriously, he takes a vow of celibacy after they move to the island.
Living on the island is Kalibanos, an eccentric hermit, who was previously its only resident.
Phillip Dimitrius finally seems happy, until one day a twist of fate brings his wife, her new lover Alonzo, his ex-boss, and Alonzo's son Freddy to the island due to a shipwreck.
Cast
- John Cassavetes as Phillip Dimitrius
- Gena Rowlands as Antonia Dimitrius
- Susan Sarandon as Aretha Tomalin
- Vittorio Gassman as Alonzo
- Raúl Juliá as Kalibanos
- Molly Ringwald as Miranda Dimitrius
- Sam Robards as Freddy
- Paul Stewart as Phillip's Father
- Jackie Gayle as Trinc
- Anthony Holland as Sebastian
- Jerry Hardin as Harry Gondorf
- Paul Mazursky as Terry Bloomfield
- Lucianne Buchanan as Dolores
- Vassilis Glezakos as Captain
- Luigi Laezza as Sailor
- Sergio Nicolai as Sailor
- Cookie Mueller as New Year's Eve Party Girl [3]
Background
The picture was filmed on location, including: Athens, Greece; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and New York City, New York. Susan Sarandon’s character’s last name, Tomalin, is her own maiden name. She took her husband’s last name when she married Chris Sarandon.
Distribution
The film premiered in the United States on August 13, 1982.
It was screened at various film festivals, including: the Venice Film Festival, Italy; the Toronto International Film Festival, Canada; the Davao City Film Festival, Philippines; and others.
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a rotten rating of 55% from 11 reviews.[4] Vincent Canby, film critic for The New York Times, was harsh in his review. He praised Paul Mazursky for some of his earlier works but Canby did not like this film, and wrote,
"Tempest is an overblown, fancified freak of a film. Experiencing it is like watching a 10-ton canary as it attempts to become airborne. It lumbers up and down the runway tirelessly, but never once succeeds in getting both feet off the ground at the same time. The spectacle is amusing in isolated moments but, finally, exhausting."[5] Roger Ebert gave it zero stars, writing: "The movie is an ambitious experiment, but a long and tedious one, and our revels end long before Mazursky's."
Box office
The film was a box office flop.
Accolades
Wins
- Toronto International Film Festival: People's Choice Award, Paul Mazursky; 1982.
- Venice Film Festival: Pasinetti Award - Best Actress, Susan Sarandon; 1982.
Nominations
- Golden Globe Awards: Golden Globe; Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Raul Julia; New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female, Molly Ringwald; 1983.
- Young Artist Awards: Best Young Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Sam Robards; Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Molly Ringwald; 1983.
See also
- List of William Shakespeare film adaptations
References
- ^ Tempest at Box Office Mojo
- ^ Tempest at the American Film Institute Catalog.
- ^ Curley, Mallory. A Cookie Mueller Encyclopedia (2010), pp. 475–476.
- ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1021008-tempest/
- ^ Canby, Vincent.
The New York Times film review, August 13, 1982.
External links
- Tempest at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Tempest at IMDb
- Tempest at AllMovie
- Tempest at the TCM Movie Database
- Tempest at Rotten Tomatoes
- Tempest film trailer on YouTube