Cassavettes' Husbands

Friday, July 3, Saturday, July 4; Monday, July 20; Wednesday, July 22
Admission: Free, $10 minimum ($5 minimum 6/20 & 6/22)
Showtime: 7:30pm (6/3); 11pm (6/20 & 6/22)
reservations are recommended

We are giant fans of Cassavettes. It's hard not to be. But it's also hard to have a single favorite Cassavettes film because they're all so good in their own ways, even Gloria kills us.

But what's particularly special about Husbands is how rarely it's show. It's been out of print for years and is not available on DVD. So, we are very proud to present 4 nights of Husbands in July.

Wikipedia outlines the plot:

Gus, Harry, and Archie (Cassavetes, Gazzara and Falk, respectively) are three husbands with families in suburban New York. All are professional men. As the film begins, they are shaken when their best friend suddenly dies of a heart attack.

They have difficulty coping with the death, and spend two days hanging out, playing basketball, sleeping in the subways, and drinking. Gus and Archie are ready to go back home, but Harry has a vicious argument with his wife. He decides to fly to London, and the other two go with him.

But what's really great about this film is how divided the critics were. Pauline Kael (New Yorker), Vincent Canby (New York Times) and Roger Ebert all hated it. Meanwhile, Gene Siskel and Time Magazine put it on their Top Ten lists and Life Magazine featured its stars on their cover.

Kael, Canby and Ebert just didn't get it. Our favorite line from Canby:

The movie, in turn, becomes frustrated by the form chosen by Mr. Cassavetes. He lets every scene continue long past closing time, as if in hopes of grabbing, perhaps accidently, some found truth. The effect of "Husbands" eventually is like that of being at a party, after the liquor and wit have run out, and when nobody can quite bring himself to leave.

What a boob! By that man a drink and glass of wit as well.