The British Film Institute has officially announced and detailed its upcoming Dual Format Edition of director John Cassavetes' Opening Night (1977), starring Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, and Ben Gazzara. The release will be available for purchase online and in shops across the United Kingdom on May 27th.
Broadway actress Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) rehearses for her latest play about a woman in denial at the onset of her autumn years. When Myrtle witnesses the accidental death of an adoring young fan, it leads to a crisis of confidence in both her professional and her personal life which threatens to undermine the whole production.
Featuring a startling and compelling performance by Gena Rowlands, which won her the Silver Bear for Best Actress in 1978, Opening Night is arguably one of John Cassavetes' most self-reflexive works and offers an insightful and intriguing evocation of the theatrical experience from both sides of the proscenium.
Special Features:
Presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition
Audio commentary by Tom Charity, Mike Ferris and Bo Harwood
Memories of John (DVD only, 29 mins)
Falk on Cassavetes: the later years (DVD only, 14 mins)
Illustrated booklet featuring interviews and essays from Tom Charity, Al Ruban and Peter Bogdanovich