A Delicate Balance

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A Delicate Balance

PG

1973

2h 12m

Drama

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67%

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9 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In their nice Connecticut home, Agnes (Katharine Hepburn) and Tobias (Paul Scofield) have grown used to the imperfection and fragility of their marriage. Quietly nursing their grief over the death of their son, they get by well enough together. Agnes' boozy sister wanders in and out, and they allow anxiety-stricken friends to move into an upstairs room. But, when their daughter, Julia (Lee Remick), shows up announcing her fourth divorce, long-repressed emotions come to the surface.

Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

[A Delicate Balance has] a cast of stars that not even excesses of makeup and hideous costume design can transform into mutually related characters.

Jun 29, 2020

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Nora Sayre

New York Times

If only the cast of magnificent actors appearing in Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance could be transported to another film before our eyes, we might see something marvelous -- instead of suffering a sense of waste.

Nov 15, 2018

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Steve Grant

Time Out

The cast on show is unbeatable. They make the whole grinding affair bearable, but you'll still get a stiff neck.

Jan 26, 2006

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Dick Lochte

Los Angeles Free Press

Regardless the combination of Hepburn, Scofield and Reid is enough to delicately balance the scales against the script's failings.

Dec 17, 2019

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TV Guide Staff

TV Guide

This second in a series of Ely Landau-filmed stage plays for a subscription sales system is an unfortunately stiff, dull, and extremely stagy screen adaptation of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 15, 2018

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Tony Mastroianni

Cleveland Press

Paul Scofield's performance is perfect. He is an actor who understands the nuances of a role, who can be restrained without being dull, emotional without being hammy.

Jan 15, 2004

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W. W. W

A great cast and good performance, but this should be a play rather than a movie. The story is dull and boring or anything in it. It's about booze and shameless overbearing friends, nothing intellectual about it. Absolutely no fun in it!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

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Alec B

I understand why people feel like this is a little too stage bound in execution as Tony Richardson's direction is more subtle than usual but I think that's missing the point. In order for the more absurd elements to work everything needs to appear more mundane. The whole cast is doing exactly what Albee's difficult play requires.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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Audience Member

I understand why people feel like this is a little too stage bound in execution as Tony Richardson's direction is more subtle than usual but I think that's missing the point. In order for the more absurd elements to work everything needs to appear more mundane. The whole cast is doing exactly what Albee's difficult play requires.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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steve d

Next to nothing works in this mess.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

a very bad imitation of eugene o'neil, it inflicts equally empty hauteur and melodrama the author has heaped upon us in lieu of actual tragedy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Tony Richardson's film of Edward Albee's play is quite powerful thanks to what I've always thought is Katherine Hepburn's finest cinematic performance. While steeped in her mannerisms, it still feels real, angry and so very sad.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Tony Richardson

Director

Katharine Hepburn

Agnes

Paul Scofield

Tobias

Lee Remick

Julia

Kate Reid

Claire

Joseph Cotten

Harry

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Synopsis

In their nice Connecticut home, Agnes (Katharine Hepburn) and Tobias (Paul Scofield) have grown used to the imperfection and fragility of their marriage. Quietly nursing their grief over the death of their son, they get by well enough together. Agnes' boozy sister wanders in and out, and they allow anxiety-stricken friends to move into an upstairs room. But, when their daughter, Julia (Lee Remick), shows up announcing her fourth divorce, long-repressed emotions come to the surface.

Director: Tony Richardson
Producer: Ely Landau
Screenwriter: Edward Albee
Production Co: Cinévision Ltée
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jun 11, 2007
Runtime: 2h 12m

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