Search - The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 03/23/2004 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 54 mins Studio: Showtime Entertainment Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Romantic Drama, Period Film

Tennessee Williams' 1958 novella -The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone was first filmed in 1961, with Vivien Leigh as the middle-aged title character and Warren Beatty as the callow gigolo with whom she falls in love. Since the "shocking" aspects of a May-December romance in which the woman is December have lost their punch over the years, it is perhaps wise that this 2003 made-for-cable remake is a period piece, set in the mid-'50s. Helen Mirren stars as Karen Stone, a former Broadway actress who has given up her career in favor of a secure and somewhat boring marriage to a wealthy American (Brian Dennehy). When her husband dies unexpectedly during a vacation to Italy, the widowed Mrs. Stone is desperate for companionship and affection. Through the auspices of a glamorous but somewhat seedy procurer named The Contessa (Anne Bancroft), Mrs. Stone is paired off with the studdish Paolo (Olivier Martinez), who is several years Karen's junior. What begins as merely a passionate physical attraction quickly deepens into true love -- but Mrs. Stone may be far more enamored of the mercenary Paolo than he is of her. Watching this spectacle from the sidelines is author Williams' alter ego, a wispy journalist named Christopher (Roger Allam, whose flamboyant Tennessee-isms handily steal the show). Filmed on location in Dublin and Rome, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone debuted May 4, 2003, on the Showtime cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Helen Mirren - Karen Stone
Olivier Martinez - Paolo di Lio
Anne Bancroft - The Contessa
Brian Dennehy - Tom Stone
Roger Allam - Christopher

Helen Mirren delivers a memorable performance in this made-for-cable adaptation of Tennessee Williams' drama. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone has been transferred to disc in the full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The original English-language soundtrack appears in two audio formats, Dolby Digital Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1, while a dubbed Spanish-language track is in Dolby Digital Mono; the feature is also closed captioned in English. As a bonus, this edition also features interviews with actors Helen Mirren and Olivier Martinez, as well as filmographies for the leading cast members. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide