MovieChat Forums > Beloved Infidel (1959) Discussion > An Illusion Of Affluence

An Illusion Of Affluence

posted 14 years ago by PatrickCurren
7 replies | jump to latest

I just caught the end of this mess on TCM, after not having seen it in years.

In addition to all the other things wrong with the death scene, it should be noted that the geography is seriously screwed up. The movie shows Fitzgerald dying at a nice home in the Hollywood Hills, with a view of Los Angeles. In fact, both Fitzgerald and Graham lived in the Hollywood "flats", in modest apartments three blocks from one another.

[–] fsf1922 14 years ago

and then there's the fact that they killed Scott off in the wrong way..just having him collapse at his desk as opposed to him walking up to Sheilah's fireplace and collapsing..

[–] generalusgrant 14 years ago

Among 2,000 other glaring omissions and errors. Scott led such a fascinating and tortured life, yet the miscasting of Peck in the lead and the insipid script makes for painful viewing.

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 11 years ago

Oh, I liked this movie alright...it's a pleasant viewing. By no means a classic, but a good watch. Still, I TOTALLY agree with you that so much of it is a mess---esp. the death scene!

My biggest issue with the death scene is logic-based, as-in why the hay would Kerr's character go running amok hollering for help instead of calling 911 right away?? Did 911 not exist back then, when this film was to have taken place? That really got my goat!

And that part on the beach when Kerr has her breakdown and she and Peck embrace---it was just over-done! I hope that it was the fault of the director rather than Kerr. I always look to Kerr as one of the greatest actresses I've ever seen! But, there were distinct points in this film when she came across as plumb "actress-y". But then, so did Peck.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

[–] drippan-1 10 years ago

why the hay would Kerr's character go running amok hollering for help instead of calling 911 right away?? Did 911 not exist back then, when this film was to have taken place? That really got my goat!

You must be very young! I was born 10 years before the 9-1-1 system was even thought of. It was 1968 when AT&T along with governments and others thought of implementing such a system (Britain had one in late 1930's & was 9-9-9). Even then it took years to convert the entire United States over to it and most people think of the system as being from the 1970's.

[–] Schmoozette 10 years ago

Yes, the 911 system is more recent, but I also thought it was absurd that the character of Sheila didn't even call the local police or fire department. Just sayin'.

[–] clunybrown2011 8 years ago

Did 911 not exist back then, when this film was to have taken place? That really got my goat!

Back in olden times, every parent taught their child to dial "O" for operator in an emergency. I believe calls for medical emergencies were routed to Central Receiving (Hospital) and an ambulance would be dispatched. Bobby Kennedy was taken there after his assassination.

http://articles.latimes.com/2005/oct/02/local/me-then2

[–] rob-949 8 years ago

"...instead of calling 911 right away?"

Yeah, didn't she have a cell phone? Sheesh!