Wednesday 23 August 2023

Madame Bovary (1949 Vincente Minnelli)

Bookended by James Mason as Flaubert on morals trial, leading into the novel with Jennifer Jones perhaps not quite as good as I've seen her elsewhere as Madame B. Van Heflin is her husband, Louis Jourdan and Alf Kjellin (billed as Christopher Kent) are lovers (of her, not each other). Gene Lockhart as a garrulous chemist and Frank Allenby as the money-lender both stand out.

Minnelli's ballroom scene is memorable - the waltz between Jones and Jourdan is brilliant - and he also uses mirrors frequently as though to expose the flaws of the woman. (Didn't really know DP Robert Planck but it's a typically plush MGM production under the helm of Pandro S. Berman). Classy Miklos Rozsa score also most welcome. Novel adapted by Robert Ardrey.

Also with Gladys Cooper, John Abbott, Harry Morgan, George Zucco, Ellen Corby, Paul Cavanagh.



Lockhart's been in everything from Bringing Up Baby (sheriff) to Miracle on 34th Street (Judge). We've seen him in The Devil and Daniel Webster, Juke Girl, Leave Her to Heaven, A Scandal in Paris, The Strange Woman, Rhubarb and The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit.

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