I was underwhelmed by this film. It looks wonderful, and has an interesting idea, but the careful plotting evident in the rest of Powell and Pressburger is not evident here; when things stretch here, they break.
The most disappointing mistake in the film is during two separate shots at crucial points in the film there is a cut where it appears they either recycle the same footage for a few seconds to lengthen a take or they cut into another take to get the time they want for the shot. One is a close up of Sister Ruth and another is of the jungle right after a very important act occurs. Sorry, avoiding spoilers spoils reviews. Whatever, *Spoiler just in case* and I was not as taken as some by Kathleen Byron's performance as Sister Ruth. I felt it lacked subtlety. Every time we see her she's got them keerazy eyes. It just strained credibility too much to have her behave so brazenly when for God's sake she's a nun! Not that they don't have inner lives, but it went beyond permissible boundaries without proper reprimand and it felt like they were avoiding the issue instead of addressing it and finding a way for her to go nutty anyway. Also, they stir the pot so it looks like the natives are going to kill the nuns; then the Ruth plot which is only circumstantially tied to that plot contrivance becomes the main focus; then they completely forget that there was supposed to be danger.
I also did not love the attitude towards the natives. I didn't just want some politically correct concessions, but they are all described as children throughout and the script has them all behave like children throughout.
I was very surprised that was Jean Simmons. Quite a transformation.
David Farrar was serviceable, but the part is underwritten. He should have a sign on his hairy-chest that says "charming rogue." He does little to merit the fuss made over him or to suggest that the character has greater depths.
Even the title is referred to only in passing, as a label for Sabu's character, and then forgotten, and it isn't really quite apt as it relates to vanity and not temptation as it would be more appropriate to.
Quite a good score, wonderful cinematography (although I believe the other comment about color processes is correct), and there are moments where Powell's sheer intelligence shines through but they are rare.
On the whole I don't quite understand why this film has acquired its epic reputation, on the whole it leaves too much out; not to the imagination, just out.
The most disappointing mistake in the film is during two separate shots at crucial points in the film there is a cut where it appears they either recycle the same footage for a few seconds to lengthen a take or they cut into another take to get the time they want for the shot. One is a close up of Sister Ruth and another is of the jungle right after a very important act occurs. Sorry, avoiding spoilers spoils reviews. Whatever, *Spoiler just in case* and I was not as taken as some by Kathleen Byron's performance as Sister Ruth. I felt it lacked subtlety. Every time we see her she's got them keerazy eyes. It just strained credibility too much to have her behave so brazenly when for God's sake she's a nun! Not that they don't have inner lives, but it went beyond permissible boundaries without proper reprimand and it felt like they were avoiding the issue instead of addressing it and finding a way for her to go nutty anyway. Also, they stir the pot so it looks like the natives are going to kill the nuns; then the Ruth plot which is only circumstantially tied to that plot contrivance becomes the main focus; then they completely forget that there was supposed to be danger.
I also did not love the attitude towards the natives. I didn't just want some politically correct concessions, but they are all described as children throughout and the script has them all behave like children throughout.
I was very surprised that was Jean Simmons. Quite a transformation.
David Farrar was serviceable, but the part is underwritten. He should have a sign on his hairy-chest that says "charming rogue." He does little to merit the fuss made over him or to suggest that the character has greater depths.
Even the title is referred to only in passing, as a label for Sabu's character, and then forgotten, and it isn't really quite apt as it relates to vanity and not temptation as it would be more appropriate to.
Quite a good score, wonderful cinematography (although I believe the other comment about color processes is correct), and there are moments where Powell's sheer intelligence shines through but they are rare.
On the whole I don't quite understand why this film has acquired its epic reputation, on the whole it leaves too much out; not to the imagination, just out.