Friday, February 11, 2011

Radio review – TGA#148 – “The Glass Menagerie” (1951) ***1/2

Strong version of the classic play, with an excellent past. Montgomery Clift is perfect as Tom, sensitive and tormented (is there a Clift performance you can’t say that about?) – he doesn’t go in hard on the Southern accent, a trap many actors doing Tennessee Williams fall into (“Listen to me! I’m ACTING in a SOUTHERN ACCENT!’). Helen Hayes does, but her wistfulness really suits the character of the dreamy mother. And Karl Malden is less bombastic and more sensitive than usual as the Gentleman Caller. It’s all done with skill and a light touch, and the narration from Tom works well on radio.

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