This week’s mystery movie was the 1973 American Film Theatre production of “The Iceman Cometh,” with Lee Marvin, Fredric March, Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges, Bradford Dillman, Sorrell Booke, Hildy Brooks, Nancy Juno Dawson, Evans Evans, Martyn Green, Moses Gunn, Clifton James, John McLiam, Stephen Pearlman, Tom Pedi, George Voskovec, Don McGovern and Bart Burns. Photographed by Ralph Woolsey, production design by Jack Martin Smith, costume consultant Dorothy Jeakins, edited by Harold F. Kress, production supervisor Irving Temaner. For the American Film Theatre, Henry T. Weinstein, executive producer Edward Lewis, producer Ely Landau, directed by John Frankenheimer.
A special thanks to B.J. Merholz, who mentioned this film in a conversation several years ago.
“The Iceman Cometh” is available on DVD from Kino Lorber, and on streaming via Kanopy.
More about the American Film Theatre here.
Writing in the New York Times (Oct. 30, 1973), Nora Sayre said:
Just at the moment when many have been stripped of their national illusions — concerning the purity of government — Eugene O’Neill’s conviction that people cannot live without personal illusions comes through with a fresh tang of irony.
As a drama for any and every decade, “The Iceman Cometh,” which opened yesterday at selected theaters, stresses that human dignity depends on dreams, even deceptions. Perhaps this is an especially American trait; many Europeans seem able to survive with fewer fantasies than we do.
… Infinite care and thought and respect have been poured into this production. But the play doesn’t flourish in film form for one reason: even the simplest camerawork breaks the continuity. We’re supposed to see these people as one huddled mass, imprisoned together in the room they rarely leave, perpetually affected by one another’s words or presence. Inevitably, close-ups destroy that.
… So this isn’t the “Iceman” of your lifetime. And there will be many who can’t help recalling Jason Robards as Hickey; Robards is often regarded as the exclusive owner of that role. But the play is an inescapably great experience and that fact isn’t muffled by this film.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent. And no, he does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Moses Gunn.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman in a festive party hat.
Update: This is Evans Evans.
Brain Trust roll call: Norman Desmond (Monday’s mystery gent), Patrick (Monday’s mystery gent), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery gent) and Tucson Barbara (Monday’s mystery gent).
For Wednesday, Monday’s mystery guest has some mystery companions.
Update: This is Martyn Green, George Voskovec and Moses Gunn.
And also….
Update: This is Tom Pedi and Hildy Brooks.
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery woman).
For Thursday….
Update: This is Robert Ryan in his last film.
…. also a mystery gent in a newsboy cap.
Update: This is Jeff Bridges.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Jenny M. (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday ….
Update: This is Lee Marvin and Hildy Brooks.
… and also….
Update: This is Fredric March.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s , Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Gary (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and Monday’s, Tuesdays and Thursday’s mystery guests and some of Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Earl Boebert (Thursday’s mystery guest No. 1, wrong movie), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and L.C. (mystery movie).
And thanks, Benito, it is a great cast.
ladailymirror.com 
Moses Gunn?
LikeLike
Moses Gunn
LikeLike
Moses Gunn in THE ICEMAN COMETH.
LikeLike
Moses Gunn?
LikeLike
Just a wild eye guess, but is the Mystery Man with the knife a young Morgan Freeman?
LikeLike
Oh that’s an interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
I can’t think of his name. This will drive me crazy.
LikeLike
Mrs. Frankenheimer (Evans Evans)
LikeLike
Janet Leigh in “The Fog”?
LikeLike
Oh, interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
THE ICEMAN COMETH (1973)
Monday: Moses Gunn.
Tuesday: Evans Evans.
Wednesday: Clifton James, George Voskovec, Moses Gunn; Tom Pedi, Juno Dawson.
LikeLike
I know George Voskovec, Tom Pedi and Juno Dawson.
LikeLike
George Voskovec, Moses Gunn, Tom Pedi and Hildy Brooks in The Iceman Cometh.
LikeLike
The Iceman Cometh
Tuesday – Evans Evans
Wednesday – George Voskovec, Hildy Brooks, Tom Pedi, and Moses Gunn
Thursday – Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges
LikeLike
THE ICEMAN COMETH. Moses Gunn Monday, Hildy Brooks Tuesday, George Voskovec, Bart Burns, and Moses Gunn, tom Pedi and Juno Dawson Wednesday, and Robert Ryan and Jeff Bridges today.,
LikeLike
Ah, yes. The Iceman Cometh. With Moses Gunn, Hildy Brooks, Evans Evans…all New York actors with whose work I was familiar back in the 60’s …as well as Tom Pedi and Robert Ryan in what is considered the performance of his career and Jeff Bridges in the production that he says introduced him to acting as a serious endeavor. I am embarrassed that I had to go until Thursday to get this one: I had just seen this film last fall!
LikeLike
Anticipating Friday: Frederick March and Lee Marvin.
LikeLike
Robert Ryan, Bart Burns, George Voskocic; John McLiam, Lee Marvin, Tom Pedi.
LikeLike
Robert Ryan and Jeff Bridges.
LikeLike
The movie is “The Iceman Cometh” Monday: Moses Gunn, Tuesday: Evans Evans, Wed: I’m not completely sure about the first two, Clifton James and John McLiam? Also, Tom Pedi and Hildy Brooks. Thurs: Robert Ryan and Jeff Bridges.
LikeLike
The Iceman Cometh 1973
Mon. – a young Moses Gunn
Tues. – Evans Evans (was she married to Frankenheimer at the time?)
Weds. – top image: Moses Gunn again with George Voskovec (and maybe Martyn Green?) bottom image: Tom Pedi and Juno Dawson
Thurs. – Robert Ryan and Jeff Bridges
Looking forward to Lee Marvin and Frederick March. Also, looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
LikeLike
My guess for Thursday is Robert Ryan, which would make the movie “The Outfit.”
LikeLike
Our movie is The Iceman Cometh with Moses Gunn on Monday, Evans Evans for Tuesday, Tom Pedi and Hildy Brooks for Wednesday, and Robert Ryan and Jeff Bridges for Thursday.
LikeLike
The Iceman Cometh 1973
LikeLike
Great cast! https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-iceman-cometh-1973
LikeLike
This weeks film is The Iceman Cometh – the 1973 version
LikeLike
Lee Marvin and Mr. March.
LikeLike
Wed photo number 2 is Juno Dawson and Tom Pedi
LikeLike
Monday is Moses Gunn
LikeLike
Ooops, Wed photo number is has Hildy Brooks and Tom Pedi
LikeLike
Thurs we have Robert Ryan and Jeff Bridges
LikeLike
Tues we have Evans Evans, Frankenheimer’s wife.
LikeLike
I think the actor in the middle of the 3 shot on Wed is George Voskovec.
LikeLike
Is that Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges, Lee Marvin, and I want to say Henry Fonda (but he’s not listed in the cast) in The Iceman Cometh?
LikeLike
The Iceman Cometh from 1973
LikeLike
Nancy Juno Dawson, Lee Marvin, Hildy Brooks; Fredric March.
LikeLike
Lee Marvin; Fredric March
LikeLike
Mr. Marvin and Mr. March.
LikeLike
For Fri. we have Lee Marvin and Fredrick March
LikeLike
Friday – Lee Marvin and Frederick March.
Again, really good pick on the movie and what a fun “in their prime” cast.
LikeLike
Friday: Lee Marvin and Fredric March.
LikeLike