Eccentricities Of A Nightingale (1976)

A high strung minister's daughter (Blythe Danner) is the town's eccentric, who has always been in love with doctor's son (Frank Langella) from across the street but kept her passionate secret to herself. But on a hot July summer, she seems consumed by her passion and begins to unravel. This is the 1964 revision of Tennessee Williams' SUMMER AND SMOKE, which he preferred to his original 1948 play. Directed by Glenn Jordan, this version differs significantly from the original in several ways, notably in the character of Langella's mother, played by Neva Patterson whose character was negligible in the 1948 play but has a major role here. While I can see why Williams would prefer it, I don't it's necessarily a better play than SUMMER AND SMOKE. But the writing is pure, unadulterated Williams in his prime. Danner is wonderful as Alma, a typical Williams heroine but in danger of spinning off into parody if not played with all the right notes which Danner does and superbly. Langella plays his role with admirable restraint which contrasts nicely with Danner's repressed hysteria. With Tim O'Connor as her father and Louise Latham as her mentally unstable mother.