MovieChat Forums > The Man (1972) Discussion > Found a copy!

Found a copy!

posted 15 years ago by ghostfan
5 replies | jump to latest

I have wanted to see this movie forever -- read the book a number of years ago, and it is probably time for a re read --

Finally a friend found me a copy (she is very good at trading DVD's) I would rate the copy as 8 out of ten.

I know this movie doesn't cover the whole book, but I am delighted to have it.

I have only watched the first 20 minutes or so and already I hate the Barbara Rush character -- I wasn't taught to use names like that (born in 1957)

The soundtrack is also surprisingly good!

[–] brandomarlon2003 15 years ago

How is Jones' performance? This from the really early portion of his career. He must have barely been in his late 30's when this film was out.

[–] ghostfan 15 years ago

His performance is good, and of course I never get tired of his wonderful voice, but I have to agree with some of the reviewers, it IS a kind of 'talky' film. No riots, action scenes, etc. which I am sure would turn some people off, and it's a shame they couldn't include some of the more interesting parts of the book, that come later in the movie, but then it would have been a miniseries. Of course, that may not be a bad idea!

I'm glad I had a chance to finally see it.

[–] movieghoul 15 years ago

The makeup guys aged him somewhat, he looked about 50.

[–] Jeff_Given 15 years ago

I have to say I felt the film was incredibly incomplete - after reading the book. James Earl Jones has said that if they knew it would be released in theaters, they would have asked for more time and more money.

What I will say is that Mr. Jones does a great job, just a great job. Really well done. But I found Rod Serling's script to be lacking in scope and scale - could have been a budget constraint...but I thought the source material was far richer than the film. The book was not perfect, but it could have been taken in far more directions.

[–] ghostfan 15 years ago

Kinda what I thought -- the credits started to roll, and I thouught -- wow, it's over? There should be more...