Mikes Film Talk

The Great Lillian Hall is Jessica Lange and “the great disappearing act.” An act that is becoming all too consuming. Stephen King wrote a short story once about two brothers. One discovered a rare water, stuff that allowed a small population to live longer. The kick back, or the O’Henry ending, reveals that the very same fountain of youth, diminishes our brain power.

Lillian calls the dementia she suffers from, her “Great disappearing act.” An apt term as the sufferer of this disease does indeed disappear.

My parents both have, and had, Dementia. Dad, the had, was suffering from Dementia and Parkinson’s. This double whammy left him a shell of himself. The two burned what made him special away. Mum, however, is quite sweet and everyone one who meets her, fall in love with this dear old lady.

She too, is losing bits of herself, like Jessica Lange’s character in the film, she has good days and bad days.

It is, as someone once said, to weep.

The late great Robin Williams took his own life after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Lillian Hall has the same disease.

The Story

Lillian Hall is a legend on stage. She is working as the star of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. The actress starts the film by quoting lines from the play to people not in the show.

It is, slightly disconcerting and a tad confusing to those she addresses. As rehearsals move on, Lillian loses more and more of her dialogue. A few times, early on, she rages against her director David (Jesse Williams).

Roundabout

A brief side note:

Sir Michael Redgrave suffered from Parkinson’s. A well known anecdote reveals the changes this disease wrought. During a performance of one show, Redgrave, at the height of tension, means to order his attendant to “Bring me a pint of port and a pistol,” He plans to kill himself.

The line Redgrave uttered instead was “Bring me a pint of piss and a portal.” The younger actor, trying to get things back on track asked, “A pint of piss my lord?” Redgrave thundered back, “Aye and a portal!”

While the above tale is amusing the film, based on a true story, allows that it is not all laughs when losing one’s memory, faculties and identity. In one scene Lillian is visited in hospital by daughter Margaret (Lily Rabe). She furious that her mother has her assistant, Edith (Lily Rabe) take charge of her medical needs, and she shouts at Lillian.

LIllian still plans on starring in “The Cherry Orchard.”

This and That

Pierce Brosnan is perfect as her sympathetic neighbor and Michael Rose is haunting as the love of her life who keeps appearing in Lillian’s life, only to disappear.

The cast are superb in this sad testament to our new killer of the aged.

Tears before bedtime

Written by Elisabeth Seldes Annacone and directed by Michael Cristofer, The Great Lillian Hall will make you cry. I manfully disregarded the tissues for this one. Jessica Lange and the cast made this one personal, too personal to not shed tears.

Rotten Tomatoes has given this one 100%. As well they should. It is odd that so many actors and performers, who all have magnificent memories to their disposal, should lose themselves at the end.

The trailer

The Great Lillian Hall is streaming now on Max. Watch it and bring your hanky. It is a tearful ride.