A.R. Gurney Movies
Stanley Donen directed this made-for-television adaptation of A.R. Gurney's international stage success, which follows the long-gestating romance between two people through their correspondence. Andy (Steven Weber) first fell for Melissa (Laura Linney) when they were in second grade, and while he's remained infatuated with her -- and she cares deeply for him -- life takes them in very different paths as he becomes a serious-minded lawyer and she pursues the life of an artist. But the two of them write one another frequently, and through the letters, notes, and messages passed between them, the audience is allowed to see how a childhood crush grows with time into a mature and abiding affection between two people. Expanded from the original stage (which featured only two actors on a bare stage), Love Letters also features Kirsten Storms, Tim Redwine, and Jackie Richards. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Weber, Laura Linney, (more)
- 1986
One room, several dinners, and a multitude of characters figure into the A.R. Gurney Jr. play The Dining Room. Several lives and relationships are built up and destroyed in consistently amusing fashion. The film consists of wall-to-wall vignettes, some lasting a mere few minutes. The charm and novelty of the original play rested in the fact that the huge "dramatis personae" was played by a mere six actors. This versatility is carried over to film version, though it sure seems like that dining room is full at all times. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
