Gena Rowlands Remembered: How ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ Transformed the Craft of Screen Acting

As a dedicated admirer of cinema, I can confidently say that Gena Rowlands was an unparalleled force in the world of acting. Her performance in “A Woman Under the Influence” is nothing short of groundbreaking, a testament to her raw talent and fearless approach to character exploration.

Remarkable screen acts not only enlarge the art form uniquely but also provide viewers with a captivating experience, while stimulating original thoughts for upcoming artists. A small number of these performances have even reshaped the craft completely: Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane,” Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront,” Toshiro Mifune in “Rashomon” and Gena Rowlands in “A Woman Under the Influence.” These exceptional actors revolutionized their respective roles.

94-year-old actress Gena Rowlands passed away on Wednesday, fifty years after her groundbreaking film “A Woman Under the Influence” was first screened at the New York Film Festival in 1974. Among a group of legendary actors who revolutionized cinema, Rowlands was the most recent to leave us. This group includes Peter Falk, Seymour Cassel, Ben Gazzara, and her late husband, the actor-director John Cassavetes.

Those who primarily know Susan Sarandon as the forgetful older woman from “The Notebook” or her Emmy-winning role in “Hysterical Blindness,” should explore her most significant work. This includes powerful performances in films like “Faces,” “Opening Night,” and “Gloria” (the latter being the most accessible, where she plays a tough-talking gangster’s girlfriend tasked with safeguarding a Puerto Rican orphan). Personally, I highly recommend the hard-to-find 1971 film, “Minnie and Moskowitz,” as Sarandon and her co-star, Seymour Cassel, portray a couple dealing with relatable human struggles.

From the outset of John’s filmmaking journey, Gina stood by his side, experiencing at close range the genesis of what is now famously known as the American independent film revolution. In essence, Natalie Rowlands was performing alongside Edward G. Robinson in “Middle of the Night,” when Cassavetes created “Shadows.” Although she had a minor role in that film, her impact was significantly greater in the nine subsequent movies they collaborated on. She served as his creative inspiration, and without her compelling performances, Cassavetes’ body of work may not have exerted such a profound impact on the evolution of acting on screen.

Prior to delving into “A Woman Under the Influence,” let’s briefly discuss how “Shadows” significantly shaped both John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands’ careers. This film, produced in 1957 with a budget of $40,000, was a pioneering attempt at improvisational acting, born from a workshop exercise between Cassavetes and his actors. The performances in this black-and-white production were intense, passionate, and appeared unscripted (despite the fact that some scenes required up to 50 takes to meet the demanding first-time director’s standards). This groundbreaking film introduced a fresh form of realism to on-screen acting.

Based on Rowlands’ account (who essentially functioned as a repository of her husband’s memories following his passing in 1989), it’s worth noting that Cassavetes meticulously crafted intricate scripts for most of his subsequent works. However, “Shadows” left such an indelible mark on the filmmaking world at the time that Cassavetes became synonymous with improvisation. This led viewers to believe that his projects were created through improvisation (allowing actors to devise their own lines), a misconception that has even influenced other directors, who credit Cassavetes as the forerunner of their improvisational filmmaking techniques.

Rowlands’ power as an actor is subtler than it seems at first glance, yet crucial for grasping Cassavetes’ directorial prowess. With a background that saw him portray Mia Farrow’s husband in “Rosemary’s Baby” and star in “Faces” in the same year, Cassavetes epitomized an “actor’s director.” He had faith in his cast members to breathe life into their characters, often taking their advice and nurturing their unique ideas.

In a chat with the Academy, Rowlands recounted an empowering piece of advice her husband, Cassavetes, offered her regarding “A Woman Under the Influence.” Doubting her capability to portray the lead role, Cassavetes asserted that he had written it specifically for her. “The part is yours,” he told her, expressing unwavering faith in Rowlands’ ability to embody it. She described this moment as a liberating feeling. “It has given me freedom in many aspects since then,” she said. “Now when I hear ‘action,’ it doesn’t feel like pressure. It’s mine to portray as I see fit.”

With Cassavetes, one notable aspect is this: After “Shadows,” he consistently returned to using scripts, which led to a unique form of improvisation that’s akin to jazz. The actors learn their parts, but they are given the freedom to adapt and add their own flair, making the performances seem spontaneous and genuine – essentially, mirroring real life.

In the movie “A Woman Under the Influence,” Rowlands portrays Mabel Longhetti, a contemporary housewife who deeply desires to make her husband happy but is burdened by their three children, an overbearing mother-in-law, and unrealistic expectations of what constitutes a “perfect spouse.” To provide some background, the film “The Stepford Wives,” penned by Ira Levin (from “Rosemary’s Baby”), was released two years prior, hinting at society’s growing doubts about whether the concept of a “perfect wife” was achievable.

The movie portrays a feeling that character Mabel appears influenced by decades of Hollywood films and adverts from Madison Avenue, offering deceptive and unrealistic portrayals of wives as subservient and supportive figures. Despite Mabel’s desire to embody this role for her husband Nick (Peter Falk), she battles personal issues like anxiety, alcoholism, and mental health problems that hinder her. In an offbeat birthday party scene in the film, where some children dress up while others run around nude, another parent criticizes Mabel for acting oddly – ironically, it’s her unique portrayal in the movie that sets it apart.

Previously, most screen performances could be characterized as portrayals of ordinary life. However, before Rowlands took on that character, actors often stuck to depicting normality. Unlike some notable stars, such as her idol Bette Davis, who occasionally overacted and chewed up the scenery, Rowlands’ acting style in “A Woman Under the Influence” was markedly different. Instead of a natural performance, we find her character expressing extreme emotions through constant twitches and distorted expressions of pain, which are evident in numerous scenes throughout the movie.

Few have ever revealed the gradual, agonizing disintegration of a woman’s mind as Rowlands did. The most poignant aspect – from serving spaghetti breakfast to Nick and his friends, to the dramatic slap – lies in understanding that Mabel is struggling to maintain her composure. She yearns to be the ideal wife.

“She asks her husband early on, ‘Tell me how you’d like me to be,’ she stutters, earnestly saying, ‘I can adapt, I can change. You guide me, Nicky.’ Despite his versatility, Rowlands could play any role, but Mabel isn’t that flexible. She can only be herself, portraying genuine and identifiable imperfections.”

2024-08-15 23:19

Gena Rowlands Remembered: How ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ Transformed the Craft of Screen Acting

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