Two-time Golden Globe winner Gena Rowlands had an illustrious and enduring Hollywood career that spanned decades, with the gifted actress becoming a staple on the silver screen with her brilliant performances. Rowlands was notably married to prominent actor and director John Cassavetes, with the powerhouse couple collaborating on a whopping ten critically acclaimed pictures that ultimately led to two Academy Award nominations for the dynamic movie star. Their personal and professional relationship was truly one of the books and helped establish the pair as some of Tinseltown’s most celebrated figures.
Throughout her spectacular tenure as a sensational leading lady, Rowlands appeared in a slew of lauded hits including A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria, Another Woman, Love Streams, and The Notebook, with the seasoned actress continuing to find massive success well into her ’80s.
Rowlands sadly passed away following complications of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 94, leaving behind an enviable legacy that will likely never be replicated. Here are Gena Rowlands’ top ten best films.
10 A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
In the 1974 drama A Woman Under the Influence, Gena Rowlands collaborated with her filmmaker husband John Cassavetes to portray Los Angeles housewife and mother of three Mabel Longhetti, who struggles to overcome her mental illness and battle with alcoholism while attempting to maintain a seemingly normal facade.
Mabel’s deeply concerned construction worker husband Nick (Peter Falk) eventually makes the tough decision to have her committed to an institution for a few months because of her volatile behavior, as he tries to raise their children alone while anticipating her return.
Related
Gena Rowlands’ Performance in This Harrowing Movie is the Best of the 1970s
Gena Rowland’s haunting portrayal of mental illness in A Woman Under the Influence remains the crowning achievement of 1970s movie acting.
An Oscar-Worthy Independent Endeavor
Cassavetes wrote A Woman Under the Influence specifically for Rowlands after she expressed a profound desire to star in a play about the struggles and difficulties contemporary women faced on a regular basis, with the duo opting to turn the screenplay into a film in order to truly flesh out the troubled lead character.
After a lack of interest by Hollywood studios, Cassavetes funded the project himself and even contacted movie theaters to play the drama after failing to find a distributor. The hard work paid off for the couple, as A Woman Under the Influence earned Rowlands an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Globe win, with Cassavetes also being nominated for Best Director.
Stream on Max
9 Opening Night (1977)
Rowlands showcased her spectacular range as a performer when she appeared as a stage actress experiencing a nervous breakdown in the 1977 psychological drama Opening Night, which focuses on fading star and functioning alcoholic Myrtle Gordon and chronicles the major spiritual journey she embarks upon after witnessing the death of an obsessive teenage fan.
While preparing to headline an off-Broadway play, Myrtle is left rattled and emotionally wracked by the devastating ordeal, and must find a way to persevere through her trauma.
Rowlands’ Award-Winning Performance
Retrospectively deemed an art horror film by modern day critics, Opening Night failed to captivate moviegoers upon its initial premiere in the United States but fared far better with European audiences, with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association even nominating Rowlands for a Golden Globe Award for her compelling portrayal.
The picture was entered into the Berlin International Film Festival and garnered rave reviews, with Rowlands going on to win the highly prestigious Silver Bear for Best Actress at the event. The reputation of Opening Night has only improved since its release, with Rowland’s performance being singled out as one of her finest.
Stream on Max
8 Gloria (1980)
In the 1980 neo-noir crime thriller Gloria, Rowlands starred as the tough and resilient titular character Gloria Swenson, the ex-girlfriend of a brutal New York City mobster who takes pity on a young orphaned boy after his family is murdered by a gangster hit squad when the child’s father was revealed to be an informant for the FBI.
Gloria becomes the traumatized boy’s reluctant new guardian and together the pair goes on the run from the mob after she stumbles upon an incriminating accounts ledger that the mobsters desperately want.
Gloria Dazzles & Wins the Golden Lion
John Cassavetes initially had no desire to direct the thriller and sought to only sell the story to a studio, but once his wife Rowlands was cast in the lead role he took on helming the project as a favor to her.
Gloria made its phenomenal premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the festival’s top prize the Golden Lion, and for her impressive contributions Rowlands once again received an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination. Rowlands’ character in Gloria was even included in the American Film Institute’s AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Heroes & Villains list.
Stream on Tubi
7 Another Woman (1988)
Gena Reynolds joined forces with influential director Woody Allen when she headlined his 1988 drama Another Woman, which tells the story of New York philosophy professor Marion Post as she takes a leave of absence from her job in order to pursue her dreams of becoming an author and completing her new book.
While subletting an apartment to work on her writing, Marion overhears intimate and revealing conversations next door by her psychiatrist neighbor and their patient, prompting the woman to ponder and reevaluate her own life.
Allen’s Drama Becomes a Retrospective Hit
Featuring the additional talents of stars like Mia Farrow, Gene Hackman, and Blythe Danner, Another Woman was a mild critical and commercial success, with Allen’s storytelling and directing being heavily inspired by his Swedish film idol Ingmar Bergman and his picture Wild Strawberries.
Modern-day critics have been far more kind to the drama and many have declared Another Woman to be one of Allen’s top five greatest films, with the Daily Telegraph lauding its “remarkably elegant hold on tone” and singling out Rowlands’ performance as one of the very best in any Allen-directed movies.
Stream on Hoopla
6 The Notebook (2004)
Lauded as one of the greatest romance movies to ever grace the silver screen, the beloved 2004 blockbuster The Notebook touts a stacked ensemble cast led by Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, and Gena Reynolds, and recounts the poignant and powerful love story between heiress Allie Hamilton and lumber mill worker Noah Calhoun in 1940 South Carolina, with the couple’s all-consuming connection spanning decades and overcoming prolonged separation, war, and other determined suitors
A Bona Fide Romantic Cult Classic
Garner and Rowlands appeared as the older versions of Noah and Allie, with the celebrated Nicholas Sparks adaptation chronicling the devoted duo’s awe-inspiring romance and courtship.
The Notebook became a sleeper hit at the box office and went on to gross over $117 million worldwide, attracting praise for its engrossing performances and thought-provoking premise. Rowlands won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Satellite Awards and in the twenty years since the tear-jerker’s debut, The Notebook has emerged as a fan-favorite cult classic that continues to tug on the heartstrings of audiences.
5 Love Streams (1984)
Rowlands starred alongside her husband John Cassavetes once again when they teamed up for his penultimate directorial film Love Streams, a 1984 drama that chronicles the dysfunctional relationship between struggling siblings Robert Harmon and Sarah Lawson as they both battle to overcome their emotional baggage and crippling personal hang-ups.
When the mentally unstable divorcee Sarah goes to visit her alcoholic, self-destructive writer brother Robert, the pair are forced to face their respective issues, which leads to explosive results.
Related
Gena Rowlands’ Most Praised Film Deserves a Second Look 40 Years Later
Hollywood is mourning the loss of silver screen legend Gena Rowlands, who had a phenomenal acting resume that spanned nearly seven decades.
Cassavates & Rowlands Make Movie Magic
Loosely inspired by the Ted Allan play of the same name, Love Streams was a detour from Cassavetes’ go-to directorial approach, as the picture contains none of his signature hand-held camera work though it was shot in the couple’s Los Angeles home (like most of his projects). Cassavetes took over the role of Robert Harmon originated by Jon Voight in the stage production, with Love Streams going on to attract widespread critical acclaim for its riveting character study and exceptional screenplay.
The intimate drama won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and currently holds a highly-coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
4 Faces (1968)
For his 1968 drama Faces, John Cassavetes utilized the talents of his go-to regulars Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassel as well as John Marley, Fred Draper, and Lynn Carlin to help capture the final stages of the collapsing marriage of Richard and Maria Forst and the impact their separation has on those closest to them.
In the revealing picture, Rowlands appears as Jeannie Rapp, a younger woman that Richard pursues a relationship with while his estranged wife Maria subsequently flirts with her own young suitor (Cassel).
A Revealing & Intimate Production
Faces was entirely self-financed by both Cassavetes and Rowlands, with the duo employing a budget of just $275,000 and promising the then-unpaid cast profit participation instead of upfront pay.
Filming took place for eight months at the Hollywood power couple’s home, with Cassavetes directing the drama in black and white in a documentary-style approach that highlighted the raw pain and emotions the characters experienced in the picture. Faces was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay, and won the Pasinetti Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
Stream on Max
3 Unhook the Stars (1996)
Rowlands worked with her director son Nick Cassavetes when she appeared alongside Marisa Tomei and Gérard Depardieu in the 1996 drama Unhook the Stars, which depicts the endearing relationship between nurturing widow Mildred and her free-spirited neighbor Monica (Tomei), who is in desperate need of help taking care of her young son J.J. as the single mother attempts to provide for her family after kicking out her abusive husband. Mildred becomes a safe place for Monica and J.J., as she also rediscovers her own identity and purpose in life.
Rowlands Steals the Show
Though it ultimately failed to make a splash at the box office, Unhook the Stars nonetheless showcased Rowlands’ effortless confidence and commanding screen presence, with her delightful chemistry with Tomei endearing audiences. Many critics felt that Rowlands helped elevate the drama and overcome its somewhat lackluster screenplay, with the veteran performer brilliantly capturing the identity crisis her character undergoes.
In their glowing review, Time Out wrote,
“
A sensitive, honest, touching study of the seemingly limited options faced by a woman whose age belies her energy, enthusiasm and ability to enjoy herself whenever the opportunity presents itself.
2 Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
In one of Gena Rowlands’ earliest screen performances, the dynamic actress starred opposite Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas in the 1962 Western Lonely Are the Brave, an adaptation of the Edward Abbey novel The Brave Cowboy that centers on Korean War veteran John W. “Jack” Burns as he spends his time working as a ranch hand and shunning joining modern society, deliberately getting himself arrested in order to help break his close buddy Paul Bondi (Michael Kane) out of prison.
Rowlands’ Showcases Her Stellar Acting Prowess
Rowlands appears as Paul Bondi’s wife Jerry, who provides Jack with some much-needed help after he escapes prison by himself when Paul refuses to do so. A massive manhunt ensues after Jack breaks free, with the determined and relentless Sheriff Morey Johnson (Walter Matthau) making it his mission to apprehend the sly convict.
Lonely Are the Brave attracted appreciation for Douglas’ engrossing portrayal of a stubborn man crushed by the world’s modern wonders as well as its stunning cinematography and thought-provoking premise; Douglas would later call the acclaimed Western one of his favorite portrayals.
1 Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)
Frequent collaborators Rowlands and Seymour Cassel knocked it out of the park when they starred in John Cassavetes’ 1971 romantic dramedy Minnie and Moskowitz, focusing on the down-on-her-luck museum curator Minnie Moore as she attempts to get over a broken heart after ending her abusive relationship with a married man.
When Minnie meets the eccentric, long-haired parking attendant Seymour Moskowitz, sparks fly between the seemingly mismatched duo despite their glaring differences.
A Fictional Relationship Mirrors Real Life
Minnie and Moskowitz was a low-budget picture financed by Universal Studios in hopes of replicating the unprecedented success of the 1969 independent road drama Easy Rider, and Cassavetes turned to his go-to stars Rowlands and Cassel to bring the quirky film to life. Both actors brought their own unique energy to their respective roles and captured the zany and unlikely courtship between the pair.
Spectrum Culture noted the similarities between the fictional couple’s relationship with that of Cassavetes and Rowlands, writing,
“[John] Cassavetes injected elements of his own relationship with [Gena] Rowlands into Minnie and Moskowitz’s odd courtship, and despite the characters seeming incompatibility, their union is finally credible and touching.”
