Streamers **** (1983, Matthew Modine, Michael Wright, Mitchell Lichtenstein) – Classic Movie Review 7534

Boldly treating the cinema screen like a theatre stage, director Robert Altman films his 1983 success Streamers on a single location – the army barracks dormitory where a group of young US recruits are waiting to be sent to the Vietnam War. They have to deal with racial tension and intolerance when one soldier reveals that he is gay.

Writing his own screenplay, David Rabe makes sure his 1975 play comes over loud and clear, and Altman steers it home safely with the help of performances worth anybody’s time.

Streamers is a fascinating experimental movie that evokes a tense atmosphere of paranoia and claustrophobia.

George Dzundza in Streamers.

The cast are Matthew Modine, Michael Wright, Mitchell Lichtenstein, David Alan Grier, Guy Boyd, Albert Macklin, George Dzundza, Bill Allen, Paul Lazar and Phil Ward.

The film credits the World Premiere of Streamers as presented at The Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut.

It follows a similar success with Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) when Altman brought Ed Graczyk’s play to the screen with the help of the playwright.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7534

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