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'.
Richard III (McKellen) (1995)
7.5/10
Director: Richard Loncraine
Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Kristin Scott Thomas
Shakespeare's melodrama of treachery and murder during the War of the Roses is transplanted to the 1930s with evil King Richard (Ian McKellen) portray... Read more
Jeffrey (1995)
6.7/10
Director: Christopher Ashley
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Steven Weber, Michael T Weiss, Sigourney Weaver
A gay man gives up sex for fear of AIDS, then meets his HIV-positive Mr Right. Paul Rudnick's brilliantly witty off-Broadway hit gets a faithful scree... Read more
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
Country Life (1994)
6.8/10
Director: Michael Blakemore
Starring: Sam Neill, Greta Scacchi, John Hargreaves, Kerry Fox
Delightful treatment of Chekhov's 'Uncle Vanya' is set in the Australian Outback before World War I. When a drama critic returns with his sexy new wif... Read more
The Browning Version (1994)
7.3/10
Director: Mike Figgis
Starring: Albert Finney, Matthew Modine, Greta Scacchi, Julian Sands, Michael Gambon, Ben...
Albert Finney gives a grand performance as a departing language studies teacher at an established English Boys School. Matthew Modine and Greta Scacch... Read more
The Madness Of King George (1994)
7.2/10
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Starring: Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Amanda Donohoe, Rupert Graves, Rupert E...
A film version of Alan Bennett's play about the life of one of Britain's most eccentric kings, George III. After thirty years on the throne, George (N... Read more
Oleanna (1994)
6.7/10
Director: David Mamet
Starring: Debra Eisenstadt, William H Macy, Rebecca Pidgeon
David Mamet directed this screen version of his controversial two-character stage drama about a frustrated, self-involved male Professor (William H. M... Read more
M Butterfly (1993)
6.8/10
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Barbara Sukowa, Jeremy Irons, John Lone, Ian Richardson
Inspired by the true story and based on the Tony Award-winning play by David Henry Hwang, about the bizarrely extended relationship between a French d... Read more
A Few Good Men (1993)
7.7/10
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon
Navy lawyer (Tom Cruise) is driven to investigate the case of two marines who killed a compatriot. Jack Nicholson plays the commanding officer who doe... Read more
Love and Human Remains (1993)
Director: Denys Arcand
Starring: Thomas Gibson, Ruth Marshall, Mia Kirshner
Quebec film-maker Denys Arcand's ('Jesus of Montreal') first English-language film is this dark comedy that follows a bunch of young urban adults in p... Read more