The Iceman Cometh (1973)

Eugene O'Neill's masterpiece is often referred to as the greatest work of 20th century American theatre, centring on a crowd of wastrels, misfits, anarchists, alcoholics, whores and barflies, drinking away their troubles, and making grandiose plans. When Hickey arrives, for his yearly drunken bender to celebrate landlord Harry Hope's birthday, each character's dreams and aspirations melt away with a heart-breaking poignancy, exposing the human need for illusion and fantasy as an antidote to self-delusion and despair.

Director John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, The Train) assembled a stunning ensemble cast led by Lee Marvin (Point Blank, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) as Hickey, Robert Ryan (The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen), Frederic March (The Best Years of our Lives, A Star is Born) and a young Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, The Fisher King).