John Cassavetes's 'A Woman Under the Influence' (1974)
Her Head in FilmsMay 21, 202402:19:52

John Cassavetes's 'A Woman Under the Influence' (1974)

In this episode, I explore Gena Rowlands's raw and uncompromising performance as Mabel Longhetti in John Cassavetes's 1974 film, "A Woman Under the Influence." Mabel is a woman struggling with mental illness and coming apart in the midst of family turmoil. I talk about why Cassavetes's work was so groundbreaking and provide details about his and Rowlands's relationship. The heart of the episode is my in-depth analysis of Rowlands's acting in the film and why I think she gives one of the greatest performances of all time. I also talk about my recent move, my own struggle with mental illness, the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, and I expand on my previous ideas about a Cinema of the Unruly Woman.



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Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan (https://www.bydhiyanah.com/)



Full show notes:



Listen to Episodes Mentioned:




• House of Sand and Fog (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/6a5e6f55)


• The Piano Teacher (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/82c4d72c)


• Vagabond (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/80f156f2)


• Dog Lady and Notes on a Cinema of the Unruly Woman (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/6b3140ed)


• Wanda (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/9b97e5ea)




More about the HBO documentary, A Dangerous Son (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8294204/)



John Cassavetes Interviews and Research:




• Independent Magazine (http://independent-magazine.org/2016/12/cassavetes-and-directing/)




Gena Rowlands Interviews:




• The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/mar/02/culture.features3)


• Interview Magazine (https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/gena-rowlands-cassavetes-rowlands#slideshow_48688.5)


• RogertEbert.com (https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/true-to-life-an-interview-with-gena-rowlands)