Happy Days and Act Without Words 2

Synopsis

During 1999 and 2000 all 19 of Samuel Beckett’s stage plays were filmed for television, and brought together a distinguished range of directors and actors. This tape combines HAPPY DAYS and ACT WITHOUT WORDS 2.

Series

Beckett on Film Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2002

Year of production

1999

Notes

ACT WITHOUT WORDS 2 was broadcast on Channel 4 on 1/4/2002
All 19 plays in the series and also a documentary on the filming of the dramas, interviews with their distinguished directors, a stills gallery with commentary and a souvenir programme are available in a boxed set of 4 DVDs. Duration: 10hrs 47mins price £99.99 from retail outlets via Tyrone Productions or www.beckettonfilm.com

Documentation

More information about the series is given on the website www.channel4.com/beckett. A booklet containing a collection of quotations from some of those involved in the series, as well as information on Beckett and his work is available separately, price £4.95 (ref. 312000) Programme notes giving a programme outline, background and links for each play are available at http://www.channel4.com/learning/main/netnotes/programid1968.htm

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Beckett, Samuel (1906-1989); drama - contemporary

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£99.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

647 minutes (compilation)

Year

2004

Type

VHS

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

90 minutes

Year

2003

Sections

Title

Happy days

Synopsis

Written in English and considered Beckett’s most cheerful piece, HAPPY DAYS features a woman buried up to her waist in a mound of sand. Winnie’s husband, Willie, appears only occasionally from his tunnel behind the mound. Winnie’s opening words, ‘Another heavenly day’, set the tone for a long monologue which lasts until she can no longer busy herself with the contents of her enormous handbag. She follows the routine of the day - praying, brushing her teeth, reminiscing about the past and endlessly trying to recall ‘unforgettable lines’ that she has once read. By the end of the second act she is buried up to her neck, but she carries on chattering cheerfully.

Duration

80 mins

Title

Act without words 2

Synopsis

Written in French in 1956, Act Without Words II is a 10-minute mime involving two players, ‘A’ and ‘B’, who are in two large sacks on the stage. Beckett specified ‘violent’ lighting and extended the notion by having the players prodded into action by a ‘goad’. A is ‘slow, awkward and absent’ whereas B is ‘brisk, rapid, precise’. A emerges slowly to set about his banal routine. Dishevelled and sulky, he eventually undresses and re-enters the sack. At this point, the goad prods B into action. He embarks on a more complicated routine, checking his watch and moving briskly to relocate the sacks on the stage before retiring back to his own. Edna Hughes’s production combines animation and live action.

Duration

10 mins

Production Company

Name

Blue Angel Films

Name

Tyrone Productions

Phone

020 7292 0520

Fax

020 7292 0525

Address

c/o World Cinema Ltd
27-28 Poland Street
London
W1F 8QW

Sponsor

Name

Channel Four Television

Phone

071-396 4444

Address

LONDON
SW1P 2TX

Name

Irish Film Board

Name

RTE

Distributor

Name

4 Learning

Notes

Channel 4 Learning has now closed. This used to be the educational broadcasting arm of Channel 4. The online shop sold educational DVDs and CD-ROMs for use in primary and secondary schools.

Online Retailer

Name

Beckettonfilm.com

Web

http://www.beckettonfilm.com External site opens in new window

Related

 

Available from retail outlets