I have written about these here several times, so no need to rehash them again, but its been a lot of fun revisiting QUENTIN DURWARD, JUSTINE and SANDRA ..... see labels for previous comments.
QUENTIN DURWARD from 1955 is maybe my favourite costume drama from the 50s (along with Fritz Lang's MOONFLEET, also 1955 - I enjoyed seeing them as a kid at Sunday afternoon matinees). DURWARD captures the Walter Scott world perfectly, with perfect roles for Kay Kendall and Robert Taylor and Robert Morley as the very devious King of France.
JUSTINE is a genuine Trash Classic, started in Tunisia and then moved to Hollywood, it in 1969, it has that plush 20th Century Fox look, a great score by Jerry Goldsmith and Anouk Aimee looking stunning in those Irene Sharaff creations, plus Michael York and Dirk Bogarde as well as Anna Karina. George Cukor took over the direction, lensed by veteran Leon Shamroy, so it romps along, capturing some of Durrell's exotic Aleandria. I just like it a lot.
SANDRA in 1965 is maybe a lesser Visconti, but is still a powerful operatic melodrama with Claudia Cardinale and Jean Sorel at their peaks of stunning beauty as the incestuous brother and sister. Again, one to savour.
I really like Quentin Durward, though if I remember correctly Robert Morley wore the stupidest looking crown in any movie ever.
ReplyDeleteTaylor while not being the most idiosyncratic of actors by a long shot did well by these pageant type roles that didn't require a great deal of characterization.
Kay clutched her jewel box attractively and it's great to see her in a large featured part but her time at the top was so brief it's regrettable that she made any films that didn't take advantage of her tremendous gift for comedy.
She is marvellous in Cukor's LES GIRLS (the only film she made in Hollowood) in 1957 and in Minnelli's THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE in 1958 - directors who knew how to showcase a stylish glamorous comedienne. I like her too in THE CONSTANT HUSBAND with Rex, and SIMON AND LAURA with Peter Finch, and of course GENEVIEVE.
ReplyDeleteThe Constant Husband is one that I've been searching for in vain so far but I adore all the others especially The Reluctant Debutante. She and Rex make such a great couple there I'm sure Constant Husband will be a pleasure of only for them.
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