Love Streams
Encyclopedia
Love Streams is an 1984 American film directed by John Cassavetes
that tells the story of a middle-aged brother and sister who find themselves caring for one another after the other loves in their lives abandon them. The visual style of the film is decidedly different from Cassavetes' other works, as it contains no hand-held camera work (which was a trademark of his visual style). Much of it was shot inside of Cassavetes' personal home.
The film is based on the 1980 play of the same name by Ted Allan
but the correlation between the screenplay and the play is minimal. In the stage production, the role of Robert Harmon was played by Jon Voight
; Cassavetes took up this role for the film version.
Love Streams was originally released with a running time of 141 minutes. It was briefly available on videotape
in the mid-80s, in a version cut to 122 minutes by the distributor; one scene was edited and several unusual visual effects (the insertion of black leader and jump cut
s) were removed. In 2003, it was released on DVD in France (along with A Child Is Waiting
) in its entirety.
Love Streams was John Cassavetes
' 11th and second to last film. He later made the more mainstream Big Trouble
.
where it won the Golden Bear
.
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
that tells the story of a middle-aged brother and sister who find themselves caring for one another after the other loves in their lives abandon them. The visual style of the film is decidedly different from Cassavetes' other works, as it contains no hand-held camera work (which was a trademark of his visual style). Much of it was shot inside of Cassavetes' personal home.
The film is based on the 1980 play of the same name by Ted Allan
Ted Allan
Ted Allan was a Jewish Canadian writer, several of whose books were made into motion pictures.Ted Allan was born in Montreal as Alan Herman. In the 1930s he fought against fascism in Spanish Civil War, along with another Canadian, Norman Bethune...
but the correlation between the screenplay and the play is minimal. In the stage production, the role of Robert Harmon was played by Jon Voight
Jon Voight
Jonathan Vincent "Jon" Voight is an American actor. He has received an Academy Award, out of four nominations, and three Golden Globe Awards, out of nine nominations. Voight is the father of actress Angelina Jolie....
; Cassavetes took up this role for the film version.
Love Streams was originally released with a running time of 141 minutes. It was briefly available on videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
in the mid-80s, in a version cut to 122 minutes by the distributor; one scene was edited and several unusual visual effects (the insertion of black leader and jump cut
Jump cut
A jump cut is a cut in film editing and vloging in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly. This type of edit causes the subject of the shots to appear to "jump" position in a discontinuous way...
s) were removed. In 2003, it was released on DVD in France (along with A Child Is Waiting
A Child Is Waiting
A Child Is Waiting is a 1963 American drama film written by Abby Mann and directed by John Cassavetes. Burt Lancaster portrays the director of a state institution for mentally handicapped and emotionally disturbed children, and Judy Garland is a new teacher who challenges his methods.-Plot:Jean...
) in its entirety.
Love Streams was John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
' 11th and second to last film. He later made the more mainstream Big Trouble
Big Trouble (1986 film)
Big Trouble is 1986 a American comedy film. It was director John Cassavetes's last film. He took over from screenwriter Andrew Bergman .-Cast:* Peter Falk as Steve Rickey* Alan Arkin as Leonard Hoffman...
.
Cast
- Gena RowlandsGena RowlandsGena Rowlands is an American actress of film, stage and television. The four-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner is best known for her collaborations with her actor-director husband John Cassavetes in ten films, in two of which, Gloria and A Woman Under the Influence, she gave Academy...
as Sarah Lawson - John CassavetesJohn CassavetesJohn Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
as Robert Harmon - Diahnne AbbottDiahnne AbbottDiahnne Abbott , sometimes credited as Diahnne Eugenia Abbott or Diahnne Déa, is an African-American actress and singer. Abbott played supporting roles in films of the 1970s and 1980s, including Taxi Driver. Abbott was married to actor Robert De Niro...
as Susan - Seymour CasselSeymour CasselSeymour Joseph Cassel is an American actor.He first came to prominence in the 1960s in the pioneering independent films of writer/directorJohn Cassavetes...
as Jack Lawson - Margaret AbbottMargaret AbbottMargaret Ives Abbott was the first American woman to take first place in an Olympic event; she won the women's golf tournament, consisting of nine holes, with a score of 47 at the 1900 Paris games...
as Margarita - Jakob Shaw as Albie Swanson
- Eddy Donno as Stepfather Swanson
- Joan Foley as Judge Dunbar
- Al Ruban as Milton Kravitz
- Tom Badal as Sam the lawyer
Awards
The film was entered into the 34th Berlin International Film Festival34th Berlin International Film Festival
The 34th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 17 to February 28, 1984.-Jury:* Liv Ullmann * Jules Dassin* Edward Bennett* Manuela Cernat-Gheorghiu* Lana Gogoberidze* Tullio Kezich* Steffen Kuchenreuther...
where it won the Golden Bear
Golden Bear
According to legend, the Golden Bear was a large golden Ursus arctos. Members of the Ursus arctos species can reach masses of . The Grizzly Bear and the Kodiak Bear are North American subspecies of the Brown Bear....
.