Vanya on 42nd Street movie storyline. In New York, the cast of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” rehearse the play in a dilapidated theater on the 42nd Street. . The arrogant and selfish Professor Serybryakov is an elderly intellectual married with his gorgeous and younger second wife Yelena that feels trapped in a prison with her marriage.
They live in a farm that supports their lifestyle with the Professor Serybryakov’s brother-in-law from the first marriage Vanya, who manages the family business with Professor’s daughter from his first marriage, Sonya, a plain single young woman and Vanya’s mother. The local Dr. Astrov visits the family every day since he is in love with Yelena. One day, Sonya confides to Yelena that she has an unrequited love for Dr. Astrov. When Professor Serybryakov discloses his intention of selling the real estate, there is a crisis in the family.
Vanya on 42nd Street is a 1994 film directed by Louis Malle and screenplay by Andre Gregory. The film is an intimate, interpretive performance of the play Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov as adapted by David Mamet. The film stars Wallace Shawn and Julianne Moore.
Over the course of three years, director Andre Gregory and a group of actors came together on a voluntary basis in order to better understand Chekhov’s work through performance workshops. Staged and filmed entirely within the vacant shell of the then-abandoned New Amsterdam Theater on 42nd Street in New York City, they enacted the play rehearsal style on a bare stage with the actors in street clothes.
Free from any commercial demands, their performances were for an invited audience only. Gregory and director Louis Malle decided to document the play as they had developed it. The film was the result of the collaborative process. It was the last film of Malle’s career.
Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)
Directed by: Louis Malle
Starring: Phoebe Brand, Lynn Cohen, George Gaynes, Jerry Mayer, Julianne Moore, Larry Pine, Brooke Smith, Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory, Madhur Jaffrey
Screenplay by: Andre Gregory
Production Design by: Eugene Lee
Cinematography by: Declan Quinn
Film Editing by: Nancy Baker
Costume Design by: Gary Jones
Art Direction by: Daniele Perna
Music by: Joshua Redman
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: September 13, 1994
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