The Children's Hour

[royalartisan]

One of my all-time favourite plays AND films.

Heart-breaking, tragic, and yet...moving.

I performed Martha's breakdown scene for a competition this past fall and we actually made it to Finals. Do you think this play is outdated ? I certainly don't.


And as for the film, Shirley Maclaine does an EXCELLENT performance as Martha Dobie.


A tribute to the life and death of Martha Dobie from Lillian Hellman's "The Children's Hour." Directed by Billy Wyler in 1961. Hellman said it was about a lie---we know it's about much more than that. Thank you for teaching us to reach out, even indirectly.


No copyright infringement intended. I only created the vids and edited the footage, I own nothing.

World Trade Center Piano Theme by Craig Armstrong in The Silent Hour. "Fix You" by Coldplay for I Will Fix You.


LINKS:

The Silent Hour-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLQIqo_eV1o

I Will Fix You-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsUt1lARlxU

Enjoy and let the discussion begin !

[perejean]

Dear RoyalArtisan,

First I'm amazed that someone your age (I looked up your profile) has even heard of the Children's Hour, let alone hold's it a favorite. It's kind of neat to think that the play still has an impact today. It was important to me growing up in the 1960's. I'm glad it's important to you.

Do I think the play is outdated? Not really. Ms. Wright and Ms. Dobie would probably have recourse to the law nowadays, but depending on the location of the school and a few other factors, the net effect of the acusation would probably be the same whether it was a lie or the absolute truth. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Incidentally, did you know there is an earlier film version of the play? It was made in 1936, starred Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins. It too was directed by William Wyler, Lillian Hellmann wrote the screenplay. Interestingly the censors made LH remove any and all references to lesbianism. Mary tells Grandma that Martha is boffing the boyfriend behind her friend's back instead. Somehow it draws the teeth right out of the tragedy. Sad really, Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins both give wonderful performances.

Anyway, thanks for reminding me of the play that helped convince me I wasn't the only gay person in the world. Good literature never dies and I am glad of it.

John+

[royalartisan]

William Wyler directed the movie in the thirties with a heterosexual "love triangle" called These Three. :D Yes, I know ! I think it's cool to be able to discuss it with someone !