4.3K views · 244 reactions | Evening viewing recommendation? On John Cassavetes's birthday, watch his 1977 masterpiece OPENING NIGHT, starring Gena Rowlands as a Broadway actress who, after witnessing the accidental death of an adoring young fan, begins to confront the chaos of her own life. Start watching on the Criterion Channel! https://www.criterionchannel.com/opening-night | The Criterion Collection | Facebook

John Cassavetes worked with the same actors for 40 years because he understood something most directors miss—chemistry can't be manufactured in a single production. He married Gena Rowlands in 1954 when they were both struggling unknowns. They made ten films together over the next 35 years, often shooting in their own living room with friends like Peter Falk and Ben Gazzara. Cassavetes didn't just direct actors. He created conditions where performers could discover characters on their own. His s