MovieChat Forums > Ryan's Daughter (1970) Discussion > It's 'Madame Bovary' folks

It's 'Madame Bovary' folks

posted 19 years ago by milliedil
8 replies | jump to latest

Few people mention that this masterpiece--my personal choice for Best Picture of 1970--was acknowledged by Lean as his very personal take on Flaubert's 19th century novel. If you know that novel, this becomes an entirely different and, I think, very exciting transformative story.

I remember seeing this on an immense screen when it was first released--I was just a lad, but the storm at sea [among other scenes] has stayed with me for decades. And that trip into the woods--with skin and violets and skin and wind and horses and skin--lush and unforgettable. Christopher Jones was far prettier than Sarah Miles, that I do recall very clearly--didn't blame her one bit for that.

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

[–] rmoore66-1 19 years ago

I agree!!!! I love this film. I was reading a book recently about David Lean where he is quoted as saying something like, "People just never got that it is 'Madame Bovary'". I have found that the more I learn about WWI and the history of Ireland, the more fascinating this film becomes.

[–] Mikecross64 13 years ago

So it is "Madame Bovary"--I thought it seemed familiar while I was watching it last night on TCM! (Great movie, by the way--I don't know why doesn't seem to be regarded as highly as David Lean's other pictures?)

[–] Slime-3 11 years ago

Out of curiosity over the many references in reviews and books to RYAN'S DAUGHTER being 'just a version of MADAME BOVARY' I watched the 1991 version of the latter directed by Claude Chabrol. It's well made, beautifully acted but, if it's reasonably true to the novel, I really can't see any kind of close connection in the stories at all. The mere fact a bored country girl marries a dull professional and later takes a lover ,in both stories, is little more than the opening gambit. The rest, the bulk, the heart of each story, develops entirely differently. RYAN'S DAUGHTER seems far more complex and thought-provoking. It's multi layered with considerably historical reference and such tragedy - all absolutely inherent to the development of it's story and the reason why the characters, major and minor, behave as they do. And none of which can be said to come from MADAME BOVARY.
Perhaps one could say it's 'loosely inspired by' Flaubert's novel but no more surely?
Like Mikecross64 I fail to understand why Lean's film has never been critically regarded as a masterpiece. I can only imagine it was 'Lean fatigue' on the part of contemporary critics (after all those Oscars...)and of course many of them must have been thoroughly pissed off that Dr ZHIVAGO was such a huge global success after they initially panned it and which made them look rather foolish.
Was there a concerted effort to 'get' Lean? To bring him down a peg or two? If there was then, sadly, they seem to have done just that.And more.

[–] andrewbanks 10 years ago

I suppose there are some similarities in that both concern a young woman bored with provincial life, who starts an affair with another man. However, it is not just the setting that is different, (Northern France in the 1850s in the novel, Ireland in 1916 in the film). In the novel, Emma Bovary has a baby with her husband Charles, whereas in the film Rose's marriage to Charles is childless. In the novel, Emma has affairs with both Rodolphe and Leon, whereas in the film Rose only has an affair with the English officer. Also, Emma's extravagant spending and spiralling debts is an important plot point driving her to eventual suicide in the book, and none of this is reflected in the film.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:12)

[–] moosefeathers 10 years ago

It was never a secret that this was a version of that story.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] Lester_Burnham_Risen 10 years ago

I saw it as more attuned to Brokeback Mountain - it's the horses and hounds you know [bet you can't get that one? - a 1999 film]

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[–] cookiela2001 10 years ago

Perhaps one could say it's 'loosely inspired by' Flaubert's novel but no more surely?

This seems closer to the mark. Emma is much more materialistic and shallow (and ultimately, sadder) than Rosie. She loses everything, whereas Rosie is basically inconvenienced, in the long run. (Has to move, but still has a husband who loves her.)

The main element reminded me more of Lady Chatterly's Lover (minus the class difference)...with an unsatisfied wife being sexually awakened by an affair in nature.

[–] Hecate-3 8 years ago

Well, it's left up in the air as to whether Charles and Rosy will stay together. We know that Charles still has feelings for her, and the fact that Rosy ended her affair before her public humiliation seems to indicate that she had realized that no matter how entrancing such runaway passion can be, it isn't a good foundation for a lasting relationship. Nevertheless, it is far from certain that they remained together. Charles made it very clear that he was continuing to present a solid marital front with Rosy in their departure just to spite the hateful villagers who were eager to see Rosy completely destroyed.

_____
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