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In Celebration
In Celebration
	DVD Cover
Directed by	Lindsay Anderson
Written by	David Storey
Based on	In Celebration by David Storey
Produced by	Ely A. Landau
Starring	Alan Bates; Bill Owen; Brian Cox; James Bolam; Constance Chapman
Cinematography	Dick Bush
Edited by	Michael Ellis
Music by	Christopher Gunning
Distributed by	American Film Theatre
Release date	March 17, 1975 (US);
Running time	131 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom, United States
Language	English

In Celebration is a 1975 British drama film directed by Lindsay Anderson and starring Brian Cox, Gabrielle Daye, Bill Owen, James Bolam, Alan Bates and Constance Chapman.^[1] It is based in the 1969 stage production of the same name by David Storey which was also directed by Anderson. The movie was produced and released as part of the American Film Theatre, which adapted theatrical works for a subscription-driven cinema series. It was meant to be shown theatrically with tickets sold in advance.^[2]

Plot

The film takes place in the Derbyshire mining town of Langwith. The Shaws' three sons have returned home to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Mr. Shaw has been a coal miner for 49 years, and has only one year left until retirement. Mrs Shaw is the daughter of a pig breeder, meaning she came from a higher social class.

The parents urged their sons to abandon their father's trade in pursuit of professional careers, but the results have not been entirely positive. Andrew, the eldest, became a solicitor but has abandoned it to pursue painting. Colin, who was a Communist party member for a year, is now a prosperous but unfulfilled industrial relations manager for a car manufacturer, dealing with negotiations with the unions. The youngest brother, Steven, is a teacher, married with four children, and has abandoned a book he had been writing for several years.

The family go to an expensive restaurant, although the action is almost entirely in the couple's living room. A friendly neighbour is present for some of the scenes.

The film examines the tensions which develop over the course of one evening as the family reunite. The family recall unpleasant incidents, including a premarital pregnancy, physical abuse, child neglect, the death of the couple's first son, the mother's suicide attempt and the "turning out" (sending him to live with another family for a period of time when another sibling was born) of another son.^[3]

Cast

In order of appearance:

Brian Cox as Steven Shaw
Gabrielle Daye as Mrs Burnett
Bill Owen as Mr. Shaw
James Bolam as Colin Shaw
Alan Bates as Andrew Shaw
Constance Chapman as Mrs. Shaw

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film version of In Celebration reunites the original cast with the original director, and their familiarity with the material shines through ... the drama is played out much as it was on the stage, and Anderson trains his camera on the actors with a theatre director's concern for the overall balance of a scene and the careful interaction of its motley participants. ... But despite the material's familiarity, the play has much cumulative power, with skeletons viciously dragged out of cupboards to the accompaniment of tersely poetic dialogue. Alan Bates has the hog-sized part as Andrew, the incessantly mocking and childish brother, but everyone has their moment of glory."^[4]

Vincent Canby, writing in The New York Times, praised Anderson for having "succeeded in making a very complete, full-bodied film of Mr. Storey's play without being tricky or intrusive…Mr. Anderson has also gotten terrific performances from everyone, especially Mr. Bates, Miss Chapman and Mr. Cox, as the most troubled of the Shaw sons."^[5]

New York Magazine wrote: "Anderson and a superb cast have made a harrowing and satisfying suspense drama."^[6]