The Long Day Closes (1992) Closing Sequence

The closing sequence from Terence Davies' autobiographical film, The Long Day Closes (1992). Davies' recreates his lonely gay adolescence with rich film sequences, overlayed with music and dialogue from movies that enriched his childhood. The Long Day Closes takes it's name from this song, composed by Henry Fothergill Chorley and Arthur Sullivan (later of Gilbert and Sullivan fame), sung here by Pro Cantione Antiqua, directed by Mark Brown. The film is currently available on DVD in the UK but, sadly, not in the United States.


No star is o'er the lake,
Its pale watch keeping,
The moon is half awake,
Through gray mists creeping,
The last red leaves fall round
The porch of roses,
The clock hath ceased to sound,
The long day closes.

Sit by the silent hearth
In calm endeavour,
To count the sounds of mirth,
Now dumb for ever.
Heed not how hope believes
And fate disposes:
Shadow is round the eaves,
The long day closes.

The lighted windows dim
Are fading slowly.
The fire that was so trim
Now quivers lowly,
Quivers lowly.

Go to the dreamless bed
Where grief reposes;
Thy book of toil is read,
The long day closes;

Go to the dreamless bed
Where grief reposes;
Thy book of toil is read,
Thy book of toil is read,
Go to the dreamless bed,
The long day closes.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Terence
• Davies
• funeral
• music
• part
• song
• Arthur
• Sullivan
• Gilbert
• Pro
• Cantione
• Antiqua

[intrepiddoobs]

Amazing version, and very similar to the arrangement performed by the King's Singers at their prom (Royal Albert Hall) in August 2008. Very different vocally, much more vibrato. Who sang this??

[cragarrows]

Pro Cantione Antiqua, directed by Mark Brown

[thetodge]

Fucking beautiful.

Had the pleasure of meeting Terence Davies twice. Increibly funny, warm person.  And his films are stunning. Just ordered this on dvd, cant wait to see it again.

[clockworktim]

Thanks for posting. I remembered this scene vividly only seeing the film once, back when it came out. Now here it is on YouTube, bringing back that stirring scene. This was about as close to a sacred moment I've seen in film. Davies was brave, holding on the sky for the entire song until the moon faded from sight. Saw this in an old vintage movie house in Chicago & I distinctly remember the setting being perfect for the mood. It spellbound the audience. No one got up until the credits were over.

[james7167]

i know leigh mcormack in this film hes my mate he lives a few doors down from me

[Happysundaze]

A really compelling and moving film, I've only seen it once nearly 20 years ago and would love to see it again. Are you listening Channel 4?

[StewartMacArthur1]

The Long Day Closes is a stunning masterpiece.

[hotdognights1]

It has a way of getting inside your head like no other film I've seen.

[2Touchstone]

Please upload the rest of the film!

[heliopathy]

I know what you mean...

[captainkundalini1]

He makes films for those of us who love to listen to the stories our parents aunts and grans tell. For those of us who walk past old buildings and wonder....And for those of us whose childhood saw so much of the past demolished. Those of us who were promised a bright shiny tomorrow.

[oswaldwang]

I can't watch this without crying, looking away for relief, then coming back and crying some more.

[sonicavenga]

Actually, I was the only paying customer. the other 2 worked there ;D)

[Rongart]

"only 2 other people in the cinema" at the Leeds Film Festival!!!