Stevie

PG

1978

1h 42m

Drama

List

60%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

For a poet with a gift for crafting words into barbs, Stevie Smith (Glenda Jackson) lives a relatively conventional life. Sheltered in a London suburb, she spends her days engaged in tedious housework, crafting verse and conversing with her aunt (Mona Washbourne). But while her body may be committed to drudgery, Stevie's mind is constantly trying to break free, which causes her to rail against religion and middle-class values, and prevents her from finding happiness with a man interested in her.

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steve d

I found the entire thing really dull.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's surprising that the critics gave this fine film such mixed reviews. Glenda Jackson is brilliant as the poet Stevie Smith, playing opposite Mona Washburn, as her live-in aunt. Jackson addresses the camera, a successful device.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Superb cast working smart and emotional script, makes for very fine film that has very limited appeal to simpletons.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jackson is magnificent, but the editing is clumsy and the visuals unworthy of poet Smith's lovely verse.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite the flawless performances, the film lacks the lyricism it seeks in order to tell its story most successfully. Its flashbacks are clumsy and feels far too stagy to be a fully realized cinematic experience.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not sure what is so fascinating about this mostly-monologue performance by the brilliant Glenda Jackson but I adore it. A "little" movie that's more talk than action, nevertheless, you get a peek inside of the head of the unusual English poet. I find it mesmerizing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Robert Enders

Director

Glenda Jackson

Stevie Smith

Mona Washbourne

Aunt

Trevor Howard

The Man

Alec McCowen

Freddy

Robert Enders

Producer

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Linda Deutsch

Associated Press

Stevie is a rare, exquisite little movie which grows in stature as it lingers in memory.

Mar 2, 2019

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Stevie captures this laconic despair, but it also does a great deal more. It gives us a very particular portrait of a woman's life.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 16, 2018

Full Review

Pat M. Kuras

Gay Community News (Boston)

The film leaves gaping holes throughout its plot and characters.

Aug 30, 2022

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

A heartbreaking documentary about a ruined life.

Rated: B

Aug 29, 2007

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Unfortunately, besides the flawless performances I didn't get much else from the film to make it much of a lyrical experience.

Rated: C+

Jun 25, 2006

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

morbid

Rated: 1/5

Aug 13, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

For a poet with a gift for crafting words into barbs, Stevie Smith (Glenda Jackson) lives a relatively conventional life. Sheltered in a London suburb, she spends her days engaged in tedious housework, crafting verse and conversing with her aunt (Mona Washbourne). But while her body may be committed to drudgery, Stevie's mind is constantly trying to break free, which causes her to rail against religion and middle-class values, and prevents her from finding happiness with a man interested in her.

Director: Robert Enders
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m