Roseland **** (1977, Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi, Don De Natale, Christopher Walken, Joan Copeland, Lilia Skala) – Classic Movie Review 9685

Director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant’s 1977 three-part drama Roseland is a subtle, quiet, poignant, slow-burning charmer. The story and screenplay are by their regular writing partner Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. The tales are The Waltz with Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi, and Don De Natale; The Hustle with Geraldine Chaplin, Helen Gallagher, Christopher Walken and Joan Copeland; and The Peabody with Lilia Skala and David Thomas.

Merchant-Ivory’s perhaps over-reverential treatment of three separate but sometimes connecting stories set around the ageing characters looking for refuge, love or just nostalgia in the tatty New York dance palais the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, leads to a sweet if rather sedate film.

But some of the relationships and performers strike right through to the heart. Lilia Skala is wonderful as Rosa, the old German lady who has to clean and cook to make ends meet, while Christopher Walken and Joan Copeland make the most of the middle tale of a young gigolo Russel and a dying faded beauty, Pauline.

Stay with it through the slow-moving first tale of recently widowed May (Teresa Wright) dancing and reminiscing with new dance partner Stan (Lou Jacobi), and you will be rewarded with a moving film of very considerable quality.

Roseland is directed by James Ivory, runs 103 minutes, is made by Merchant Ivory Productions and Oregon Four, is released by Cinema Shares International Distribution (1977) (US) and Gala Film Distributors (1978) (UK), is written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, is shot by Ernest Vincze, is produced by Ismail Merchant and is scored by Michael Gibson.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9685

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com