german/usa director douglas sirk again - film society again
was looking forward to this one after pre-screening reading
filmed in 1955 - lots of off-screen stuff adding to the intrigue
jane wyman - recently divorced from ronald reagan for one
rock hudson - at this time a closet homosexual and a big star
neither of any consequence of course to the film but in my head
the camera panning from above rooftops and trees of a small town
beautiful autumn colours with an edge of technicolor enhancement
back on earth cary scott (wyman) is setting up for an outdoor lunch
her friend sara (agnes moorhead) arrives, apologises and departs
but with enough words exchanged to tell us cary is now a widow
an offer then to visiting aborist ron kirby (hudson) for some food
my - he is the epitomy of tall, dark and handsome - and polite
smooth as too - pulls out her chair and chats her up in a flash
snips a branch - this tree only grows when there is love around
bordering on schmaltzy but the on-screen chemistry is palpable
cary in particular - the eyes say it all - she is clearly smitten
he is heading upstate for a few weeks - some trees to buy
which then leaves cary to continue with her life as usual
a date with a much older suitor at the local country club
coinciding with a weekend visit of her 2 college based kids
priggish son ned admonishing his mother for a low cut dress
bespectacled daughter kay spouting learned psychology quotes
and at the club - her friends all obnoxious whitey wannabees
one chap drunkingly throwing himself at her on the dancefloor
then a marriage proposal from her date as he drops her home
she politely declining - and inside her eyes linger on the branch
now in a vase in her bedroom - mr cool has made an impression
the weeks go by and then he's back to finish pruning the trees
as he prepares to leave he suggests a visit to see his property
she agrees else she may never see him again - too much to risk
his property - a simple home, a nursery and a disused millhouse
they enter it - she dashes around loving the ambience of it all
a clear and stark contrast to her own precisely organised home
great acting going on - especially jane wyman - love is in the air
he tries to push it but she politely resists - practicalities at work
well aware that her friends and children will not be approving
for one he is 10 years younger - another - he is a tradesman
he suggests a date for dinner at his friends place - she accepts
then we see another stark contrast between her life and ron's
fun-loving, honest, multi-cultural, accepting, grounded friends
a discreet talk with his best friend's wife reveals ron's integrity
she is falling hard - he already apparantly - he then proposes
announces they will set up home in the millhouse - all good
her children are not impressed - ned a real right (wing) prat
ditto the friends - a cocktail party they attend is a disaster
and she buckles to the pressure - calls it off - love you but...
then cary really discovers what a shallow life she is leading
highlighted by the gift of an unwanted tv set for christmas
her kids pretty well abandon her - one marries, one travels
and eventually a dash back to ron - but he is out hunting
he sees her car as she drives off - he runs, he falls, he.....
is badly concussed - she is called, she returns to his side
he eventually comes around - cary - you came home...
and as a deer comes up to the window - yes - i have
sniff - and they all live happily every after (we think)
another douglas sirk classic film - totally enjoyable
light in a sense but some real barbed issues at play
class society for one, conservatism for another
but most appreciated was the superb direction
camera angles, use of light, framing, costumes
nice one film society - enjoying these classics...
