“In writing The Great Lillian Hall, I wanted to capture the essence of my aunt, Marian Seldes, and her incredible journey in the world of theater. It’s a tribute to her legacy and the impact she had on so many lives,” says screenwriter Elisabeth Seldes Annacone.
Elizabeth Seldes Annacone’s screenplay captures the essence of her aunt’s experiences, particularly her dedication to the craft of acting and her struggles with dementia in her later years. The character of Lillian Hall is a fictional representation, but many aspects of her journey are inspired by Marian Seldes’s real-life challenges and triumphs.from a screenplay by Elisabeth Seldes Annacone, following the story of Lillian Hall, a legendary Broadway actress grappling with dementia while preparing for her final performance in The Cherry Orchard , exploring themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time.
Lillian Hall is a fictional character from the film The Great Lillian Hall.portrayed by Jessica Lange and is inspired by the life of American stage actress Marian Seldes.
Marian Seldes was an esteemed American actress known for her remarkable career in theater, film, and television. Making her Broadway debut in 1948 in a production of Medea, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for A Delicate Balance in 1967. She received subsequent nominations for Father’s Day (1971), Deathtrap (1978–82),”Ring Round the Moon (1999), and Dinner at Eight (2002). She received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010. Seldes brought a profound emotional depth to the character of Lyubov Ranevskaya, capturing the complexities of a woman facing the loss of her family estate and the changing social landscape. Her performance received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising her for her skillful interpretation of Chekhov’s work and her ability to bring the character to life in a compelling and authentic manner.
The Great Lillian Hall is loosely inspired by the life of American stage actress Marian Seldes. It is not a biopic but rather a fictional story that captures the essence of Marian Seldes’s life, her love for theater, and the challenges she faced.
Writing the Screenplay
Annacone, the niece of the renowned stage actress Marian Seldes, drew inspiration from her aunt’s life and career while writing the screenplay for The Great Lillian Hall. The film is a tribute to Marian Seldes’s legacy and her contributions to the world of theater.
Annacone’s screenplay captures the essence of her aunt’s experiences, particularly her dedication to the craft of acting and her struggles with dementia in her later years.
The character of Lillian Hall is a fictional representation, but many aspects of her journey are inspired by Marian Seldes’s real-life challenges and triumphs.
In an interview, Annacone mentioned that she wanted to honor her aunt’s memory and share her story with a wider audience. She aimed to highlight the emotional depth and resilience of a legendary actress facing the inevitable decline of her mental faculties while preparing for her final performance.
The screenplay blends elements of drama and poignancy, creating a narrative that resonates with audiences and pays homage to the indomitable spirit of Marian Seldes. Annacone’s personal connection to the story adds authenticity and emotional weight to the film, making it a heartfelt tribute to her aunt’s remarkable life and career.
Directed by Michael Cristofer, the drama film paints a poignant picture of Lillian’s fight against herself and others for a final chance to do what she loves. She looks back at her life and legacy, tries to make amends with her daughter, and asks friends to remind her who she truly was. The vivid and heartfelt portrayal of Lillian’s journey generates questions about the possibility of a real story behind the HBO movie.
Cristofer expressed his admiration for the cast and the story, highlighting the emotional depth and complexity of the characters.
“Directing ‘The Great Lillian Hall’ was a deeply personal and fulfilling journey. The story of Lillian Hall, inspired by the incredible Marian Seldes, allowed us to explore themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time. Jessica Lange’s portrayal of Lillian was nothing short of extraordinary, and her dedication to the character brought a profound emotional resonance to the film.”
Cristofer also emphasized the importance of capturing the essence of the theater world and the challenges faced by aging actors. He aimed to create a visually and emotionally compelling narrative that would resonate with audiences and honor the legacy of Marian Seldes.
Legendary Broadway actress Lillian Hall (Jessica Lange) faces her final performance as she grapples with the onset of dementia. Preparing to take the stage in a production of “The Cherry Orchard,” Lillian’s journey is a poignant exploration of memory, identity, and the inevitable passage of time. With the support of her devoted friends and colleagues, Lillian confronts the challenges of her fading mental faculties while holding onto her passion for the theater. Directed by Michael Cristofer and written by Elisabeth Seldes Annacone, the film pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of Marian Seldes, capturing the emotional depth and resilience of an aging actress determined to leave her mark on the world of theater.
Jessica Lange, a theater legend and a real-life Broadway star, portrays Lillian Hall in the film.
Jessica Lange described the role as one of the most challenging and rewarding of her career. Lange mentioned that portraying a legendary actress grappling with dementia required her to delve deep into the character’s emotional and psychological complexities.
“You see her coming up to the brink of that [dementia] and her struggle of trying to keep going, do what she’s always done, do what she loves more than anything in the world and the struggle, the courage and her fortitude and perseverance. Those were the main elements that I really had to find with this character”
The character was earlier slated to be played by Meryl Streep but was ultimately taken on by Lange. ‘The Great Lillian Hall’ is a heartfelt fictional work that bears resemblances to Marian Seldes’s life. Through its vivid portrayal of Lillian’s journey, the film tells its own story while using personal experiences as a jumping-off point.
Michael Cristofer is an accomplished American actor, playwright, and filmmaker. Cristofer began his theatrical career as an actor, primarily on stage. He transitioned to playwriting and achieved significant success with his play “The Shadow Box,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 1977. He has written numerous screenplays, including “Falling in Love” (1984), “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987), “The Bonfire of the Vanities” (1990), and “Gia” (1998), which earned him a Directors Guild Award. Cristofer directed several films, including “Gia,” “Body Shots” (1999), and “Original Sin” (2001). He also directed stage adaptations of classic films like “Love Me or Leave Me” and “Casablanca”. Cristofer served as artistic advisor and co-artistic director of River Arts Repertory in Woodstock, New York, where he produced and directed numerous plays. He collaborated with trumpeter Terence Blanchard to write the libretto for the boxing opera “Champion,” which premiered in 2013. After a hiatus, Cristofer returned to acting, appearing in productions such as “Romeo and Juliet” (NY Shakespeare Festival), “Three Sisters” (Williamstown Theater), and the Broadway revival of “A View from the Bridge”.
Elisabeth Seldes Annacone is an accomplished screenwriter and producer with a diverse career in the film industry. She received her M.F.A. in screenwriting from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. Annacone began her career working with notable filmmakers such as Oliver Stone, Francis Ford Coppola, and Caroline Thompson. She served as a senior vice president at MGM, overseeing films like “Moll Flanders,” “Mulholland Falls,” “Get Shorty,” and “Two Days in the Valley.” As a producer, she was responsible for films like David Nutter’s cult thriller “Disturbing Behavior,” Caroline Thompson’s “Buddy,” and Bruce Wagner’s “White Dwarf.” Annacone co-wrote the screenplay for “The Great Lillian Hall,” a film inspired by her aunt Marian Seldes. The film was released by HBO in 2024 and received critical acclaim. She created a one-hour drama for Universal TV called “Weekends,” with Debra Martin Chase producing.
