The Birthday Party (1968)
2h 3m
Running Time
December 9, 1968Release Date
The Birthday Party (1968)
2h 3m
Running Time
December 9, 1968Release Date
Plot.
Based on Harold Pinter's enigmatic play about a boarder in a British seaside dwelling who is visited by two strangers. They torment him verbally, ask him idiotic unanswerable questions, force him to sit down and stand up, and give him a "party". Then, eventually, they take him away, a tongue-tied idiot. The trivial becomes the terrible, and with it a certain wonder, a certain pity.
Where to Watch.
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Cast & Crew.
Robert Shaw
Stanley
Patrick Magee
McCann
Sydney Tafler
Goldberg
Moultrie Kelsall
Pete Bowles
Dandy Nichols
Meg
William Friedkin
Director
Helen Fraser
Lulu
Eddie Knight
Makeup Artist
Media.
Details.
Release DateDecember 9, 1968
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 3m
Content RatingPG-13
Genres
Wiki.
The Birthday Party is a 1968 British drama neo noir directed by William Friedkin and starring Robert Shaw. It is based on the 1957 play The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter. The screenplay for the film was written by Pinter as well. The film, and the play, are considered examples of "comedy of menace", a genre associated with Pinter.
The film was a passion project for Friedkin, an admirer of the play, and he remained proud of the film after its release, though it was a box office disappointment. It influenced his later work, particularly The Exorcist.