MovieChat Forums > The House of Mirth (2000) Discussion > Did Anyone Else Notice?

Did Anyone Else Notice?

posted 15 years ago by Cello1949-2
16 replies | jump to latest

I almost hesitate to ask this, but did anyone besides me notice Gillian's heavy breathing, almost all the time, and I don't mean just in the scenes where it might have been appropriate? I found that distracting, and couldn't help thinking that if I breathed like that, I'd hyperventilate. I never watched X-Files, so is that just Gillian's natural way of breathing? Or maybe her corset was too tight. Just wondered if anyone else noticed it.

And this in no way takes away from the beauty of the movie, the performances, or the genius of Edith Wharton.

[–] mayonnaise-4 15 years ago

No, the only time I noticed her breathing heavily was the scene at the party - she's sitting outdoors with Sheldon and they kiss, it is very erotic and heart breaking as well (especially when she gets up and walks away). Anderson and Stoltz really give the most phenominal performances, there really does seem to be chemistry between them. HOM would have to be my favourite all time movie.

[–] deeveed 15 years ago

And you know some people just don't know what's really good for them. The Selden/Bart relationship is the one usually always somewhere in the back of viewers' minds when seeing how Bart manages her relationships. They're the reference point.

And I've also noticed that in the beginning Bart comes out of the smoke into the picture. Almost missed it but Anna Karenina opened that way as well and it gives an indication of where HOM would go.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tenonceb4 15 years ago

Wear a tight corsette and try to speak without breathing heavy, I dare you. It might not have been an affectation but a result of wearing such restraining foundation garments.

Speak freely while you still can

[–] dmendes 15 years ago

I noticed it also. It was appropriate in the kissing scene but not the couple of other times she did it. In general, I did not think the acting was very good. Dan Ackroyd especially was very flat.

[–] rkcarter 15 years ago

As stated in the trivia part of this, the women were wearing period dresses and corsets. Take it from someone who has worn tightly laced bodices at the Ren Faire, she was not portraying some one with a breathy affectation. Corsets are even worse. Your breathing is very limited. And your ribcage is squeezed very tight. It is painful to endure. They don't call it bodice-ripping for nothing. Can't wait to get them off at the end of the day.

[–] Joanalamode 15 years ago

Oh the heavy breathing to me came from the wardrobe at the time....corsets, even when she was sitting you could see her discomfort....I didn't see it as sexual at all. Back in those days women would pass out from the constriction of corsets.

"Ya makin' fun of me Riz?"- Sandy

[–] tilykn 15 years ago

as an x-files fan, i can say that gillian is known for breathing like this. i'm not sure if it's her style of acting or that she can't help it. she also licks her upper lip a lot on txf, although i didn't notice her doing that in this movie.

[–] LovingBooks 14 years ago

I also believe that it was the original corsets that Terence Davies required of the actors in the film. I have acted in Renaissance Faires and the true bone corsets have been known to actually crack the ribs of very thin girls (of which I am not!!) when pulled tightly. At that time, a 14-5" waist was desirable, so a corset would have to be pulled extremely tightly. I don't know if Ms. Anderson allowed anyone to pull hers quite so tightly, but even if she didn't, just wearing one would have caused pain and labored breathing! (I hate them!! I changed from bone to stiffened fabric because a 10 hour day was just excruciating!)