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'Barefoot Contessa' vs. 'Suddenly, Last Summer'

posted 11 years ago by jrhpax
3 replies | jump to latest

As I watched "The Barefoot Contessa" -- an entertaining but very flawed film -- I realized that Joseph L. Mankiewicz had a similar problem with his later movie "Suddenly, Last Summer."

In both movies, the Production Code caused Mankiewicz to pussyfoot around controversial subject matter. So in these movies, subjects such as impotence, cannibalism and homosexuality are hinted at in such a way that many modern viewers are just baffled.

I give Mankiewicz credit for tackling the subject matter, but the movies don't hold up very well for modern audiences accustomed to seeing erectile dysfunction commercials on TV.

[–] denis-38 10 years ago

I think "Suddenly" holds up better--not quite as talky. But I love "Contessa" even when it wanders.

[–] milliedil 10 years ago

If you think the code obfuscated what was really going on in those movies, try figuring out exactly what drove Blanche Dubois to a life of dissolute guilt and sexual acting-out in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (which also completely changed the ending to conform with code requirements). It's virtually incomprehensible from watching the 1951 film.

Thank you, thank you--you're most kind. In fact you're every kind.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 7 years ago

It's sad to know how much better these films would be if it weren't for that damned code.