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IMDbPro

Mourning Becomes Electra

  • 1947
  • Approved
  • 2h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
Drama

Eugene O'Neill's updated version of the Oresteia set in New England, after the American Civil War.Eugene O'Neill's updated version of the Oresteia set in New England, after the American Civil War.Eugene O'Neill's updated version of the Oresteia set in New England, after the American Civil War.

  • Director
    • Dudley Nichols
  • Writers
    • Eugene O'Neill
    • Dudley Nichols
  • Stars
    • Rosalind Russell
    • Michael Redgrave
    • Raymond Massey
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Dudley Nichols
    • Writers
      • Eugene O'Neill
      • Dudley Nichols
    • Stars
      • Rosalind Russell
      • Michael Redgrave
      • Raymond Massey
    • 44User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos

    Katina Paxinou, Michael Redgrave, and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
    Kirk Douglas, Michael Redgrave, and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
    Michael Redgrave and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
    Add photo

    Top cast

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    Rosalind Russell
    Rosalind Russell
    • Lavinia Mannon
    Michael Redgrave
    Michael Redgrave
    • Orin Mannon
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Ezra Mannon
    Katina Paxinou
    Katina Paxinou
    • Christine Mannon
    Leo Genn
    Leo Genn
    • Adam Brant
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Peter Niles
    Nancy Coleman
    Nancy Coleman
    • Hazel Niles
    Henry Hull
    Henry Hull
    • Seth Beckwith
    Sara Allgood
    Sara Allgood
    • Landlady
    Thurston Hall
    Thurston Hall
    • Dr. Blake
    Walter Baldwin
    Walter Baldwin
    • Amos Ames
    Elisabeth Risdon
    Elisabeth Risdon
    • Mrs. Hills
    Erskine Sanford
    Erskine Sanford
    • Josiah Borden
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • Abner Small
    Lee Baker
    Lee Baker
    • Reverend Hills
    Tito Vuolo
    Tito Vuolo
    • Joe Silva
    Emma Dunn
    Emma Dunn
    • Mrs. Borden
    Nora Cecil
    Nora Cecil
    • Louisa Ames
    • Director
      • Dudley Nichols
    • Writers
      • Eugene O'Neill
      • Dudley Nichols(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Eugene O'Neill liked Writer, Producer, and Director Dudley Nichols' adaptation of "The Long Voyage Home" so much that he allowed him to film "Mourning Becomes Electra". O'Neill and The Theater Guild agreed to defer payment until the movie made a profit.
    • Goofs
      While Adam Brandt stands by the bench where Lavinia is seated, he holds his hat by his side and then drops it on the ground. Instead of hastily picking it up and putting it on the bench next to him as he sits down, he seems to forget about it and leaves it on the ground after sitting down to talk to her.
    • Quotes

      Orin Mannon: You folks at home take death so solemnly. You have to learn to mock or go crazy.

    • Alternate versions
      This is (unfortunately) usually shown on television in a heavily cut 105-minute version. The 159-minute UK version can sometimes be seen on Turner Classic Movies.
    • Connections
      Referenced in A Southern Yankee (1948)
    • Soundtracks
      Oh Shenandoah
      (uncredited)

      Traditional sea chantey

      Sung over credits and throughout film by unidentified male chorus

    User reviews44

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Great performances!
    I caught this film on TCM about six months ago and recorded it on my DVR. I loved it! "Mourning Becomes Electra" made in 1947, is long, at just about three hours. At first glance, Rosalind Russell (at age 40) is a bit long in the tooth to play Lavinia; but once you get past that, she is quite good in the part. The scenes between Russell and Katina Paxinou (playing Russell's mother, Christine) were mesmerizing. Michael Redgrave (playing the son Orrin) is a bit stiff in the first part of the movie, but once he goes "crazy" with guilt in the last part, he is brilliant. Raymond Massey, playing the father, is in the film only a short time, but is memorable as Ezra, the war weary husband to Christine. A young Kirk Douglas is good too as Lavina's suitor. This film has it all - murder, greed, dark family secrets, revenge, lust. It is too bad this film is sadly forgotten. It flopped when it opened in 1947 - probably too long and involved for audiences a that time. And too bad Rosalind Russell did not win the Oscar for it - what an injustice. Russell had been considered the favorite to win, but a long shot nominee, Loretta Young won for "The Farmer's Daughter" a far lesser film than this one, in my opinion.
    helpful•24
    2
    • sdave7596
    • Dec 31, 2007

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 19, 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA(Photographs)
    • Production companies
      • Theatre Guild
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $2,342,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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