Alice's Playhouse
In Alice's Playhouse you will discover an exceptional collection of feature films adapted from some of the most celebrated plays ever written. Often featuring towering performances, outstanding direction and exceptional writing, this collection is a superb archive of contemporary drama masterfully transferred to the silver screen.
Filmizations of The Bard's work may be scrolled via the 'Shakespeare' sub-feature in green on the left, along with other notable playwrights who have been adapted for celluloid.
For adaptations of novels and short stories, check the 'Special Interest' link and click on 'Based on...'
Right: Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh relax during the filming of Tennessee Williams' masterpiece, 'A Streetcar Named Desire'.
Curse Of The Starving Class (1994)
6/10
Director: Michael Mcclary
Starring: Kathy Bates, Randy Quaid, Henry Thomas, James Woods, Louis Gossett Jr
Based on Sam Shephard's acclaimed play, Kathy Bates and James Wood are barely clinging to the American Dream. Alcoholism and infidelity are observed... Read more
Cyrano De Bergerac (1950/1990 Versions) (1990)
7.6/10
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Michael Gordon
Starring: Jose Ferrer, Mala Powers, William Prince, Gerard Depardieu, Jacques Weber, Anne...
A double helping of "Cyrano De Bergerac". "Cyrano De Bergerac" (1950) - Jose Ferrer won an Academy Award for his stunning portrayal of the fabled 17th... Read more
Da (1988)
6.4/10
Director: Matt Clark
Starring: Karl Hayden, Barnard Hughes, Martin Sheen, Doreen Hepburn, William Hickey
Hugh Leonard's autobiographical play of growing up adopted in a small sea-coast town in Ireland. The film version is directed by character actor Matt... Read more
Dad and Dave - On Our Selection (1995)
6.5/10
Director: George Whaley
Starring: Leo McKern, Joan Sutherland, Geoffrey Rush, Ray Barrett, Barry Otto, Nicholas Ea...
Based on the comedic stories and plays of Steele Rudd (a pseudonym for writer Arthur Hoey) following the Rudd family as they leave behind their city l... Read more
Dancing at Lughnasa (1998)
6.3/10
Director: Pat O'Connor
Starring: Michael Gambon, Meryl Streep, Sophie Thompson, Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke,...
Meryl Streep heads a superb cast in this fine screen adaptation of Brian Friel's award-winning play. Set in 1936 it tells the story of five unmarried... Read more
Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
7.6/10
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Keanu Reeves, Mil...
Nominated for seven Academy Awards, the hottest love affair of 1782 is notable for its sense of style and decor, and strong performances from Glenn Cl... Read more
Dangerous Liaisons ( Blu-ray ) (1988)
7.6/10
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Keanu Reeves, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Uma...
Nominated for seven Academy Awards, the hottest love affair of 1782 is notable for its sense of style and decor, and strong performances from Glenn Cl... Read more
David Williamson Collection: Don's Party (1975) / The Removalists (1975) / Travelling North (1987) / The Four Minute Mile (1988) (1975)
8.5/10
Director: Bruce Beresford, Carl Schultz, Jim Goddard, Tom Jeffrey
Starring: Graham Kennedy, John Hargreaves, Ray Barrett, Peter Cummins, Leo McKern, Julia B...
David Williamson is considered one of Australia's greatest living playwrights. Writing contemporary stories about sex, sports and social politics. Mo... Read more
Death and the Maiden (1995)
7.3/10
Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Stuart Wilson
Roman Polanski's intense film of Ariel Dorfman's play stars Sigourney Weaver as a South American woman who believes that her lawyer husband's associat... Read more
Dennis Potter at London Weekend Television: Volume 2 (1979)
Director: Christopher Morahan, Gareth Davis
Starring: John Neville, Cyril Luckham, Ann Bell, Ray Smith, Ian Holm, Anthony Bate
Dennis Potter is one of the most significant writers of the twentieth century and undoubtedly his greatest successes were some of the single plays he... Read more