In Laurence Olivier's autobiography, CONFESSIONS OF AN ACTOR, he has this to say about "The Three Sisters" film:

"We opened the 1969-70 season with a dazzling performance from Joan [Plowright] in 'The Advertisement.' Then, during a touring week of 'Three Sisters' at Brighton, Alan Bates stayed with us at home and played himself into the part of Vershinin for four performances before joining us for the six-week film of the play, for which Paul Curran generously yielded his part of Chebutikin to me, so that there could be two known film actors in this somewhat highbrow-sounding enterprise."

In OLIVER AT WORK, compiled by the Royal National Theatre with the help of Richard Olivier and Joan Plowright, Alan Bates offers this reminiscence:

"During the filming of "Three Sisters" (which he was directing) we'd shot a scene I was in, and Olivier said it was marvellous -- go and see the rushes with Joan (Plowright). I did, and didn't like it, and Joan told him I wasn't happy with the scene. He was rather displeased, and said, "Well there isn't time to reshoot it." It was quite a chilling moment, and I was very sorry I'd mentioned it -- qustioned his judgement. Anyway, I forgot about it, and days later -- five minutes before the studio closed -- he said very loudly and sharply, "Oh, we have five minutes, and we're going to do Alan's re-take." So I pulled myself together and did it. Next day he said, "What did you think?" and I said I thought it was much better. "Oh fine," he said.

I love the story because he had to stay in charge of the situation -- he'd had his judgement qestioned, and he'd had the generosity to give me the time to do it again, on his own terms."