The dysfunctional Tyrone family, consisting of a penny pinching, alcoholic father (Ralph Richardson), a morphine addicted, unstable mother (Katharine Hepburn), an angry, bitter, and also alcoholic older brother (Jason Robards), and a fragile, tubercular younger brother (Dean Stockwell), gather for a summer afternoon at their Connecticut ocean home as festering resentments and blame come swelling to the service. Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical play is both challenging and somewhat redundant but is opened up for the screen quite well by Sidney Lumet who gives it a thorough and unabridged treatment and presents a cast that is roundly excellent.
*** 1/2 out of ****
