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Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Rigg, Len Cariou, Hermione Gingold, Lesley-Anne Down ... see more see more... , Lawrence Guittard , Christopher Guard , Lesley Dunlop , Chloe Franks , Heinz Maracek , Jean Sincere , Jonathan Tunick

Beginning its several incarnations as an Ingmar Bergman film named Smiles of a Summer Night, the story was adapted by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim into a successful Broadway musical directed by ... read more read more...Harold Prince. This film, also directed by Prince, is adapted from the stage musical. In the movie, in the early 1900s, a group of friends bound together by complicated romantic entanglements, have come together for an elegant dinner at a country estate. The men present are the current, previous, or prospective lovers of the beautiful actress, Desiree (Elizabeth Taylor), and the other women are all united by their jealousy of her. Sadly, Desiree herself wants to simplify things and settle down -- she envies the wives. The adapted score later won an Oscar. The musical's well-known songs include Every Day a Little Death, A Weekend in the Country, and You Must Meet My Wife. The most famous song from the musical, Send in the Clowns, is sung here by Elizabeth Taylor. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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29% liked it

91 ratings

Critics

11% liked it

9 critics

PG, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Harold Prince, Mark Brokaw

Release Date: December 1, 1977

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DVD Release Date: April 29, 2008

Stats: 18 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (18)

  • jjnxn
    August 22, 2011
    jjnxn
    With this much talent on the table this should have been so much better. Liz was a great star but not a singer just the wrong actress for the role she should never have been cast, she does not seem comfortable and is not looking her best. Diana Rigg, Hermoine Gingold and Len Car... read moreiou do what they can with their parts and the settings are lovely but the direction is flat, in this sort of whimsy that is deadly. It has moments of pleasure but overall a miss.
  • scrambledegg7
    February 3, 2009
    scrambledegg7
    One of my favorite Stephen Sondheim scores, set to a convoluted but fairly funny sex comedy plot. Although Elizabeth Taylor is not a very good singer, she embodies the character perfectly. The rest of the cast is fantastic, bringing out the surprising musicality of Sondheim's mel... read moreodies and the brilliance of his lyrics. The script is less brilliant, but holds up well. Definitely an enjoyable watch, and probably one I would see again some day.

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Critic Reviews

March 23, 2011
TIME Magazine

The cast does little to help matters. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Uneven and sometimes slow, pic has good looks. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

It's something more than a shock, then, that the film adaptation of the Broadway show not only fails to raise the spirits; it also tramples on them. Full Review

March 23, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide

n uninspired screen version of Steven Sondheim's stage play. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
June 22, 2010
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

An abomination of a stage-to-screen adaptation, with disjointed performances that avoids some of the musical's best tunes in an effort to make it more audience friendly. Full Review

Phil Hall
June 17, 2010
Phil Hall, Film Snobbery

The film was not as bad as many detractors would like to imagine, although it earned its demerits at many levels. Full Review

David Cornelius
May 10, 2007
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com

By all accounts, the movie version should have been a smash hit. It is instead a colossal mess. Full Review

September 23, 2006
Time Out

Not offensive, just silly. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Isn't it bad? Isn't it poor? Yes. Full Review

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A Little Night Music Trivia

  • Which Ingmar Bergman film was the basis for Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music"?  Answer »
  • In which of these films of Elizabeth Taylor was she NOT married to one of her co-stars?  Answer »
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