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Ben Fox, Frank Converse, Jane Curtin

Thornton Wilder's venerable and shiver-inducing Our Town may be one of the most frequently produced plays in the American repertory, but rarely has it been graced by the likes of Paul Newman's ...( read more  read more... )sure hand and stellar clarity. The star was asked by the Artistic Director of the Westport County Playhouse--who just happens to be Joanne Woodward, Newman's wife--to inhabit the role of the all-seeing stage manager in a live production of the show (which subsequently played Broadway). As evocatively re-staged for this video version, the New Hampshire town of Grover's Corners breathes again its crisp air and sad aura of mortality. The show is well acted, especially by vets Jayne Atkinson and Jeffrey DeMunn and heartbreaking newcomers Maggie Lacey and Ben Fox. Newman holds down the center, and his meticulous gestures and singsong voice perfectly conjure up the stage manager's detached but vaguely regretful view of life's transience. The moon is still bright over Our Town. --Robert Horton

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61% liked it

448 ratings

PG

Directed by: James Naughton

Release Date: May 23, 2003

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DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004

Stats: 36 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (36)

  • Collegekid
    December 28, 2006
    Collegekid
    One of my favorite plays.
  • WitchfulThinking
    February 8, 2009
    WitchfulThinking
    Perhaps I should justify this. My apologies to those more enlightened who found something meaningful in Our Town. The performances were well executed.

    My impression was that of a long-winded melodrama that came off as a cross between Picnic (1950 w/ William Holden) and My Din...( read more)ner With Andre -both of which I liked. Worse, the premises and issues were givens.

    I do realize this wasn't its purpose. but
    I think this play missed a chance to be a devastating indictment of the periodic corruption, hypocrisy, small-mindedness, and maliciousness that tend to underlie so many communities. This could have been done subtly or even by use of exaggeration, say by making it just over Norman Rokwell-esque enough to make us suspicious.

    Nevertheless, I guess I wanted something with more cleverness, along the lines of Main Street, USA. But I will admit it's been years since I saw it and perhaps deserves another viewing now that I'm older.
  • gumnerf
    July 22, 2007
    gumnerf
    I have this, the Paul Newman one, but it's just a good story.
  • friendsrulez
    October 14, 2006
    friendsrulez
    As boring as many people think Our Town is, I love the play. And this is a great production of it.
  • Mumbles047
    May 30, 2006
    Mumbles047
    "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?- every, every minute?"

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Our Town Trivia

  • Which Marx Brothers movie caused complaints from the city of Fredonia, New York because the city's name was used in the movie? The Marx Brothers' response was, "Change the name of your town, it's hurting our picture."  Answer »
  • In the movie Cars, what song is playing when Lighning McQueen and Sally go on aa drive?  Answer »
  • name the movie: Reverend Johnson: Now I don't have to tell you good folks what's been happening in our beloved little town. Sheriff murdered, crops burned, stores looted, people stampeded, and cattle raped. The time has come to act, and act fast. I'm leaving.   Answer »
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