Broadway actress Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) rehearses for her latest play about a woman in denial at the onset of her autumn years. When Myrtle witnesses the accidental death of an adoring young fan, it leads to a crisis of confidence in both her professional and her personal life which threatens to undermine the whole production. Featuring a startling and compelling performance by Gena Rowlands, which won her the Silver Bear for Best Actress in 1978, Opening Night is arguably one of John Cassavetes' most self-reflexive works and offers an insightful and intriguing evocation of the theatrical experience from both side of the proscenium. Presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition. Audio commentary by Tom Charity, Mike Ferris and Bo Harwood. Memories of John (Doug Headline, 2012, 29 mins, DVD only). Falk on Cassavetes: the later years (Paul Joyce, 2012, 14 mins, DVD only). Fully illustrated booklet featuring interviews and essays from Tom Charity, Al Ruban and Peter Bogdanovich.
