Ingrid Bergman plays the rich woman and Anthony Quinn is the man she had the affair with in this Italian production. It's a very strong brew with lots of intense emotions and broadly played scenes, but it packs a mighty wallop and is worth watching alone for Ms. Bergman's wardrobe, which is spectacular - just look at those glasses! As in many Italian films the dialog is recorded after principal photography is completed, so there's that slightly out of sync quality to the finished product, but it was originally done in English, so it's not dubbed in that sense. This trailer uploaded by Movie Clips Trailer Vault gives you the flavor of the piece.
If this ever comes up on television, be sure and watch or record it. It's really worth seeing for the spectacle and the intense emotions that it brings up. If you're obsessed with seeing it you can sometimes find discs for sale at iOffer.com.
Obscurity factor: 7 (no DVD, no VHS, Infrequently aired on television, well represented on YouTube)
Always thought of this one as a rather damp squid because Ingrid Bergman is too young - and we love her, no matter what. The play is "The Visit of the OLD Lady." Casting Ingrid (who is much younger than today's aged gamines like Ms. Keaton or Ms. Hawn) changes the dynamics. Imagine a minute, Ben, a Martita Hunt in the part, and story becomes revolting, which it was meant to be. In the end, I remember this film as "the one with the gold lamé leggings." In the Opera, Karla Zachanassian was sung by the compulsively repulsive Regina Resnik, a closer fit.
ReplyDeleteYes, I see your point that Bergman was too young, or rather, too glamorous to play the part. My mother actually played it when she was quite young, but she played Karla as a gorgon. It's interesting that they changed the ending as well.
ReplyDeleteHow did Karla become the richest woman in the world?
ReplyDeleteMarriage...
DeleteI have recently become vaguely obsessed with this film - and have read quite a lot about it. Apparently, the two producers (who just happened to be Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn) had a disagreement over the way Karla should be presented. Bergman wanted her to be glamorous in the way the richest woman in the world would present herself to the world; Quinn wanted her to be shown as described in the play: decrepit - and with a wooden leg and hand. It's clear who won that argument. However, I don't feel that she looked too young. Perhaps it's because I'm old enough to remember Ms. Bergman's glory days, but I was very aware of her lines and wrinkles and signs of aging and didn't think the photography did her any favors at all. Yes, she's beautiful - but she's a beautiful 45 year old woman - the right age to have had a daughter the age of the young maid in the film. And, it's not like Quinn looks like he's on his last legs either! I found it beautifully cast.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance, listen to the score of the recent (horrible flop) musical version starring Chita Rivera. It was a stunning production and I enjoyed every second of it. I don't know why it received such a vicious drubbing from the critics. But, the score really told the story and you could get the complete aura of the story from the music. (Chita DID play it with the wooden leg!)
I actually saw that production. It wasn't bad at all. I think people took issue with the play itself. It's such a European play, without any of the optimism and positivity of traditional American musical theater. The other problem I posit people had with it has to do with misogyny. It depicts a powerful woman who uses that power against a man in a vengeful way.
DeleteI loved this movie the first time I saw it over 50 years ago. Gradually, it has crept to #5 on my top 5 favorite movies list (The Heiress, The Stranger, The Big Clock, and 1999 The Mummy). Bergman knocks me out with a perfect performance; she evens acts with her teeth! Every cell in her body is Karla. Agreed that Quinn does not have as strong a role, but he is still imposing as an actor, and for heaven's sake, it is Karla's story. Karla planned it from the moment she left town, and to think she would come back as anything other than a beautiful, magnificent, stunning woman is not thinking from a woman's perspective. Ingrid was right! Hooray for Ingrid! I know there are other productions, including the plays, but for me, the movie and the story will always be Ingrid Bergman and her performance.
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute to the film. It's true, it's very strong, and I do love the glamour of it...
Delete