Opening Night (John Cassavetes 1977) w/ Martin Kessler (Filmmaker)

Felicia is joined by Martin Kessler to discuss John Cassavetes take on an actress battling her inner demons in, Opening Night (1977). We chat about Cassavetes interest in actors both on and off screen, and how his relationship with repertoire of actors adds another layer of realism to the story. We discuss the elements of the supernatural and whether Myrtle is truly being haunted by the ghost of the dead fan or did she never exist to begin with. Send us your thoughts on the episode - do you think this film could be interpreted as a ghost story? Let us know by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Follow Martin here: Twitter: @MovieKessler Website: The Pink Smoke Sources: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079672/ https://www.criterion.com/current/top-10-lists/332-barry-levinsons-top-10 https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/341-opening-night-the-plays-the-thing https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5876-john-cassavetes-underrated-surrealist https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/true-to-life-an-interview-with-gena-rowlands https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/opening-night-1991 https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/jan/19/the-stage-on-screen-opening-night-john-cassavetes-gena-rowlands https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a23693608/opening-night-movie-review/ https://unimelbfilmsoc.org/2022/12/07/a-retrospective-review-opening-night-1977/ https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2007/cteq/opening-night/ OUTRO SONG: Movies by Weyes Blood FILMS MENTIONED: THX-1138 (George Lucas 1971) The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (John Cassavetes 1976) A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes 1974) Minnie and Moskowitz (John Cassavetes 1971) Barbie (Greta Gerwig 2023) France Ha (Noah Baumbach 2013) Peter Pan & Wendy (David Lowery 2023) Pete the Dragon (David Lowery 2016) Drive (Nicolas Winding Refn 2011) Only God Forgives (Nicolas Winding Refn 2013) The Matrix Resurrections (Lana Wachowski 2021) The Exorcist (William Friedkin 1973) The Exorcist III (William Peter Blatty 1990) Guilty By Suspicion ( Irwin Winkler 1991) Dangerous Game (Abel Ferrara 1993) Bad Lieutenant (Abel Ferrara 1992) Mulholland Drive (David Lynch 2001) Fight Club (David Fincher 1999) Rosemary’s Baby (Roman Polanski 1968) The Fury (Brian De Palma 1978) Tempest (Paul Mazursky 1982) Images (Robert Altman 1972) Gloria (John Cassavetes 1980) Dodes'ka-den (Akira Kurosawa 1970) Dersu Uzala (Akira Kurosawa 1975) Kagemusha (Akira Kurosawa 1980) Ran (Akira Kurosawa 1985) Dreams (Akira Kursosawa 1990) Topsy Turvy (Mike Leigh 1999) The Mighty (Peter Chelsom 1998) Beware of a Holy Whore (Rainer Werner Fassbinder 1971) Real Life (Albert Brooks 1979) Living In Oblivion (Tom DiCillo 1995) Listen to full episode :