The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

This article is about the 1961 film. For the 2003 TV film, see The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003 film).
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

Film poster
Directed by José Quintero
Produced by Louis De Rochemont
Lothar Wolff
Written by Gavin Lambert
Jan Read
Starring Vivien Leigh
Warren Beatty
Lotte Lenya
Jill St. John
Coral Browne
Music by Richard Addinsell
Cinematography Harry Waxman
Edited by Ralph Kemplen
Production
company
Distributed by Warner-Pathé Distributors (UK)
Warner Bros. Pictures (US)
Release dates
28 December 1961 (1961-12-28)
Running time
103 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone is a 1961 British romantic drama film made by Seven Arts-Warner Bros.[1][2][3] It was directed by José Quintero and produced by Louis De Rochemont with Lothar Wolff as associate producer. The screenplay was written by Gavin Lambert and Jan Read and based on the novel by Tennessee Williams. The music score was by Richard Addinsell and the cinematography by Harry Waxman.

The film was the only directorial effort for José Quintero on the big screen.[4]

Plot

Karen Stone (Vivien Leigh), an acclaimed American stage actress, and her businessman husband are off on holiday to Rome. On the plane, her husband suffers a fatal heart attack. Karen decides to stay in Italy and rent a luxury apartment in Rome. The Contessa Magda Terribili-Gonzales (Lotte Lenya) soon introduces her to a young Italian man, Paolo (Warren Beatty), who is actually a highly paid professional gigolo. Karen and Paolo begin an affair, but it soon becomes obvious that Paolo is in it only for personal gain. He is soon bored by Mrs. Stone, and leaves her to pursue a young American film actress (Jill St. John). Ridiculed by the Contessa, chastised by her friend Meg (Coral Browne) and abandoned by Paolo, Mrs. Stone is soon utterly debased enough to surrender herself to a ragged, mysterious young man who has been following her obsessively. In the end, it seems as if Mrs. Stone has literally given up her life.

Cast

Awards and nominations

Lotte Lenya was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

2003 version

In 2003, an Emmy-award winning made-for-cable version was produced for Showtime Networks starring Helen Mirren, Anne Bancroft, and Olivier Martinez.

References

  1. "Variety". 6 December 1961: 6.
  2. "Harrison's Reports". 25 November 1961: 186.
  3. "Monthly Film Bulletin". 1962: 36.
  4. Erickson, Hal. "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961)". New York Times.
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