An Old Favorite

They run this movie on Turner Classic Movies from time to time, in fact I just caught the end of it right before I looked it up on here. Excellent film I must say, something about it just makes it a timeless piece, considering that I'm 17 and absolutely love a film over twice my age.

When you get your DVD, please come back and post what the special features are on it, if any. I recorded it off the TV into my DVR and then taped it to a VHS tape. I'll buy the DVD if the special features are good. I love this film.

I have the dvd and, unfortunately, there are NO special features.

I love this movie despite its huge flaws (the screenplay is an overripe condensation of a very complex book and the performances by Elizabeth Ashley and George Segal are just awful; the film's sound recording is poor). Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner are sublime together--very touching and vulnerable, very sad. And Vivien Leigh, still stunningly beautiful, shows no vanity whatsoever in allowing herself to play a rather brittle and bitter woman; her "mirror scene" is shocking and heartbreaking. Lee Marvin had a great year, between this and CAT BALLOU. No wonder he took the Oscar despite the fierce competition (Burton, Olivier, cast-mate Werner and Rod Steiger).

The score by Ernest Gold is one of my favorites--the love theme is truly tender and graceful, and the balance of the score captures the mood perfectly.

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

I read the novel twice (a long time ago), in English and then in Spanish. The George Segal/Elizabeth Ashley characters are different in the novel (they're more bohemians), and Karl Glocken is a minor character. I think the part was developed specially for Michael Dunn. The Oskar Werner/Simone Signoret relationship is actually better in the movie.

What character meets a totally different fate in the book? Idon't remember. Please reply.

Vivien Leigh's character is supposed to be washed up at 46. Ludicrous. Her part is embarrassingly written. I cringe at her Charleston.

The best performances come from Oskar Werner, Simone Signoret, Charles Korvin, and Michael Dunn.

You'll note Elizabeth Ashley's hair looks very 1965. Hers and George Segal's parts are terrible.

Definately on my top ten list. The characters were written so well. This level of complexity in character is so seldom seen today, if ever. The actors actually seem challenged by their various parts.
But as for a remake? Maybe. But played by who? No one comes to mind who could even come close to the Condesa as played by Simone Signoret. She owns that part. As do so many of the others. Good writing, great peformances, great characters played by so many good actors. And those eyes! Simone Signoret could do more with her eyes than any actor today. I have never seen her in anything that wasn't memorable.

the countess supplied guns for revolutionaries trying to help oppressed workers--one might say this was a knee jerk gesture of a troubled conscience (she'd only recently discovered how dismal was their plight); so it's not surprising she was unsuccesful, convicted and exiled by the government, revered by the workers. She tells the doctor her story--you have to listen closely, it's told in a few quick words.