Love Streams (1984)

Director:

John Cassavetes

Writers:

Ted Allan (play)
Ted Allan (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 August 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The film describes a few days in the life of the writer Robert Harmon (John Cassavetes) and his sister Sarah (Gena Rowlands)...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Gena Rowlands	...	Sarah Lawson
John Cassavetes	...	Robert Harmon
Diahnne Abbott	...	Susan
Seymour Cassel	...	Jack Lawson
Margaret Abbott	...	Margarita
Jakob Shaw	...	Albie Swanson
Eddy Donno	...	Stepfather Swanson
Joan Foley	...	Judge Dunbar
Al Ruban	...	Milton Kravitz
Tom Badal	...	Sam the lawyer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julie Allan	...	Charlene
Doe Avedon	...	Mrs. Kiner
Frank Beetson	...	Cashier
Neil Bell	...	The Dog Man
Gregg Berger	...	Taxi Driver
Risa Blewitt	...	Debbie Lawson
Bronwyn Bober	...	Jeanine
Tony Brubaker	...	Frank
Logan Carter	...	Female Impersonator
Alexandra Cassavetes	...	Backup Singer
Jak Castro	...	Bit Part
Michele Conway	...	Agnes Swanson
Dominique Davalos	...	Backup Singer
Cindy Davidson	...	Annette
Raphael De Niro	...	Billy
Barbara DiFrenza	...	Mary
François Duhamel	...	French Porter
Joan Dykman	...	Phyllis
George Endoso	...	House Man
Robert Fieldsteel	...	Dr. Williams
John Finnegan	...	Taxi Driver
Michael O. Gallant	...	Bit Part
Leonard P. Geer	...	Lenny
Leslie Hope	...	Joanie
Jamie Horton	...	Porter
Jim W. Jones	...	Taxi Driver
Kelly Lawrence	...	Female Impersonator
Joe Le Flore	...	Bit Part
Renee Le Flore	...	Renee
Avraham Leibman	...	Porter
Al Lopez	...	Bit Part
Victoria Morgan	...	Laurie
Christopher Morley	...	Female Impersonator
Hugo Napton	...	Ben the Bartender
Christopher O'Neal	...	Phyllis George Delano
Phedon Papamichael	...	Taxi Driver
John Qualls	...	Taxi Driver
John Roselius	...	Ken
David Rowlands	...	The psychiatrist (as Dave Rowlands)
Dean Shindel	...	Bit Part
Michael Stein	...	Porter
Jessica St. John	...	Dottie
William C. Thompson	...	Porter
Susan Wolf	...	Jade Meadows Swift

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Company:

Cannon Films

Trivia:

Jon Voight originated the role of Robert Harmon in the stage play and was originally slated to reprise his role in the film, but left the production due to scheduling conflicts and "creative differences" with Cassavetes.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Masterpiece

After "Faces", the Cassavetes' experiment that created a revolution of form (cinema verite used for fictional narrative when this was absolutely 'unacceptable' in Hollywood), "Love Streams" gets my vote for his very best work, and one of his two or three true masterpieces. Both John and Gena give the performances of their lives, using their history with each other to create a natural intimacy as brother and sister that is second to none. John also knew he was dying and gave everything left of himself for the camera, and as filmmaker. The project was developed from a play and performed many times in front of audiences with Jon Voight in the lead: another experiment that delivered a unique depth to the material; and after seeing both the play and the movie, I'd say John taking over for Jon was an inspired decision by both of them. When the movie came out, it only played about a week (to comply with a contract with Cannon) before being shelved, not even put out on the art theater or revival circuit. I actually worked at Cannon, where rumor had it that Golem was punishing John for not cutting even a minute out of the long movie. Imagine cutting a masterpiece for just a few more screenings! "Love Streams" should eventually find its way to the recognition that it is one of American cinema's greatest achievements.