@celeste_writes
A patient, formally daring work — the cinematography lingers on empty rooms longer than most audiences will tolerate, but those who stay are rewarded with the most haunting final act of the year.
Awake and Sing!
The Bergers, a blue-collar Jewish family living in an overstuffed tenement and undone by the Depression, struggle through hard times and dream of a better future in this 1972 production of Clifford Odets' pungent play. Personalities and politics clash as Odets' mélange of characters try to survive on pennies a day. Walter Matthau plays cynical World War I amputee Moe Axelrod, and Leo Fuchs portrays the family's iron-willed leftist grandfather.
Quick Stats
10.0
TMDB Rating
1
Votes
1h 35m
Runtime
—
Budget
—
Box Office
—
Return
Key Crew
DirectorRobert Hopkins
WriterClifford Odets
Produced by
KCETBroadway Theatre Archive
Where to Watch
Streaming
BroadwayHDSee more on TMDB → JustWatch
Critics & Reviews
3 featured@jhalberg
I walked in expecting another genre exercise and walked out feeling like I'd been eavesdropping on a confession. The lead performance is genuinely singular — a career-defining turn.
@priya_a
A few too many scenes feel borrowed from a better film, but the soundtrack and the production design carry the rest. Solid recommendation for fans of slow-burn European thrillers.
Cast
Walter Matthau
Moe Axelrod
Ron Rifkin
Sam Feinschreiber
Felicia Farr
Hennie
Martin Ritt
Uncle Morty
Leo Fuchs
Jacob
Robert Lipton
Ralph Berger
John Myhers
Schlosser
R
Ruth Storey
Bessie Berger
