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Act One

1963 1h 50m Biography List
Tomatometer 1 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Playwright Moss Hart (George Hamilton) becomes famous on Broadway with his collaborator George S. Kaufman (Jason Robards).
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Act One

Critics Reviews

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Joan Didion Vogue The only movie I've seen in 1964 that already looks and sounds thirty years old. Mar 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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jordan m This was sort of like what Shakespeare in Love would've been like if absolutely all of the finesse, energy and intrigue were sucked out of it. Some of the actors played their characters well, or at least faithfully conveyed what was in the script, but none of the characters came off as interesting enough to have a movie made about them when they really were. Kaufman was an enigmatic figure reduced to a couple of traits in a way that seemed like Dore barely knew him. All of the focus was put on the banal series of physical actions that resulted in the play rather than any introspection or insight into Moss's writing process or inspiration. Some of the diner scenes had good comedic dialogue in them, but the conversations were still ultimately about nothing and I mostly thought about what it would be like if every person crammed into that table had ordered a meal. The worst part for me was how incredibly deceitful the film score was, with some serious dramatic piano tunes provided for Moss's third or fourth walk up the stairs to Kaufman's office to do exactly what they'd been doing earlier in the movie. I kept expecting something miraculous or surprising to happen and nothing ever did. This would've been a waste of time to watch had it not compelled me to watch the relatively excellent movie that was made out of the play they're writing in this. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Well casted performances from supporting cas outstanding Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Frances H I wanted to like this film, since my husband and I met in a college production of Once in a Lifetime, but the movie couldn't decide what it was going to be--an autobiography, a film, a comedy, etc. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/27/16 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Playwright Moss Hart (George Hamilton) becomes famous on Broadway with his collaborator George S. Kaufman (Jason Robards).
Director
Dore Schary
Producer
Dore Schary
Screenwriter
Dore Schary
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 50m
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