The Winter of Our Discontent (1983)

This story tells those self-denials of an honest man what necessary to reach his object of life.

Director:

Waris Hussein

Writers:

Michael De Guzman, John Steinbeck (novel)

Stars:

Donald Sutherland, Teri Garr, Tuesday Weld

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Donald Sutherland	...	Ethan Hawley
Teri Garr	...	Mary Hawley
Tuesday Weld	...	Margie Young-Hunt
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Marullo
Richard Masur	...	Danny
E.G. Marshall	...	Mr. Baker
Kirk Brennan	...	Allen Hawley
Amanita Hyldahl	...	Ellen Hawley
Nan Martin	...	Mrs. Baker
Macon McCalman	...	Reverend Sloane
Ben Piazza	...	Louis Brock
Margaret Wheeler	...	Miss Elgar
Tom Pletts	...	Dave
Linda Hoy	...	Mildred

Storyline

This story tells those self-denials of an honest man what necessary to reach his object of life.

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Plot Keywords:

foreclosure | land | grocery store | honesty | decency | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Winter of Our Discontent (#33.1)

Filming Locations:

Northern California, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Lorimar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based upon a quote from William Shakespeare's play "King Richard III": (Act I, Scene I): "Now is the winter of our discontent".

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Connections

Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

User Reviews

Money can't buy happiness

This is a powerful film about how the lusts of the modern world give one an empty feeling. I watched this movie for two main reasons: my respect for the prose of John Steinbeck and the acting skill of Donald Sutherland. Sutherland made this film about 3 years after starring in the Best Picture winner ORDINARY PEOPLE. In ways, his two characters are similar, a suburbanite who can't stave off tragedy with financial success. Teri Garr gives an equally effective performance as his wife. As much as I admire Donald Sutherland, I'd have to say my favourite actor in this film is Richard Masur. He plays the mentally handicapped neighbour of Sutherland and Garr who has been forced to live on his own by his rich family. He has all the toys a person could want but still he's unhappy. The movie's theme of misunderstanding the mentally handicapped is common in Steinbeck stories (Lennie in OF MICE AND MEN and Noah in THE GRAPES OF WRATH). However, the setting seems to be atypical for John Steinbeck. Most of his stories are set in Great Depression rural area. So, to have one set in a modern, urban setting is a bit unsettling. All and all, this is a very memorable film with a very able cast of characters.