A Delicate Balance (1973)

An affluent man (Paul Scofield) and his wife (Katharine Hepburn) live in an upper class neighborhood with her alcoholic sister (Kate Reid). But soon three visitors descend upon them. Their spoiled daughter (Lee Remick) going through her fourth divorce and their best friends (Joseph Cotten, Betsy Blair) who suddenly appear in a state of terror and refuse to go back home. Edward Albee's Pulitzer winning play has been transferred to the screen intact with no concessions to cinema. It's a filmed play, pure and simple. Like his most famous work WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, Albee's filmed play is somewhat intangible. There's something unspoken hovering around the proceedings and the unnamed terror that drove their best friends away from their home serves a similar purpose to George and Martha's child in VIRGINIA WOOLF?, a catalyst to expose truths that have been buried too long. As expected, the acting is excellent with Reid, making the most of Albee's pungent dialog, a particular stand out. Directed by Tony Richardson (TOM JONES). If you're not a fan of filmed theater (I like filmed theater), you may have problems with it but I think it's good enough to overcome one's hesitancy.