 |
| Jean Simmons and Katina Paxinou |
Caroline Ruthyn (Jean Simmons) finds herself at the mercy of her rather batty Uncle Silas (Derrick De Marney) and his psychotic son, Dudley (Manning Whiley), after her father dies and she becomes the ward of Silas -- who has serious debts and sinister plans. But even more threatening is the very weird governess Madame de la Rougierre (Katina Paxinou), who is positively monstrous. This adaptation of a Sheridan Le Fanu gothic novel tries very hard to be atmospheric and sinister and classy, and it nearly succeeds some of the time, but it also has a decidedly second-rate quality to it that nothing can disguise. The acting is very good, however, with Jean Simmons perfect as the (rather slow) heroine and Paxinou marvelous as the evil Madame, who shows up again to cause mischief at an unexpected moment. Marjorie Rhodes has a small role as Mrs. Rusk and there isn't enough of her. The ultimate effect is one of tedium, however.
Verdict: Strange, rather dull movie despite all the goings-on. **.
5 comments:
Jean Simmons never got me excited as an actress until very late in her career, when she played the matriatch in the redux of Dark Shadows, that gothic soap opera I am obsessed with. She became quite the grande dame...and if I am not mistaken, also played Helen Lawson in the TV movie remake of Valley of the Dolls in the 80s. I never found her "all that" when she was young...
-C
I agree, although she was quite interesting in "Angel Face." Too bad the reboot of Dark Shadows didn't last longer, as it was interesting. A Facebook friend managed to watch every episode of the ORIGINAL series all over again. Don't think I'm quite up for that, although I believe I did revisit the revival. I remember the TV version of "Valley of the Dolls" -- it was entertaining, if I recall.
Simmons was wonderful in Brit films, but when she came to Hollywood, having just married Stewart Grainger, she declined Howard Hughes's advances. He paid her back by putting her in every Christian martyr flick he made. But she managed to make Elmer Gantry, The Dain Curse, Desiree, So Long at the Fair, Angel Face and The Big Country. She was miscast in Spartacus -- far too ladylike to be a Germanic barbarian slave.
On stage, I saw her in Little Night Music, where she was the most beautiful of all Desirees. (Is she only actress who ever played both Desiree Armfeldt and the Queen of Sweden she was named for?)
Simmons was wonderful in Brit films like Black Narcissus and Great Expectations, but when she came to Hollywood, having just married Stewart Grainger, she declined Howard Hughes's advances. He paid her back by putting her in every Christian martyr flick he made. But she managed to make Elmer Gantry, The Dain Curse, Desiree, So Long at the Fair, Angel Face and The Big Country. She was miscast in Spartacus -- far too ladylike to be a Germanic barbarian slave.
On stage, I saw her in Little Night Music, where she was the most beautiful of all Desirees. (Is she only actress who ever played both Desiree Armfeldt and the Queen of Sweden she was named for?)
John, I didn't realize Simmons had done any theater, nor that she could sing. Interesting observations you make about her and Hughes and his effect on her career. She did manage to get in some interesting pictures despite him. My favorite is probably Preminger's "Angel Face."
Post a Comment