William Wyler said about Laurence Olivier, 'he's been very kind in things he's said, he said I taught him how to act in pictures, which is not true because I didn't teach him how to act. You can't teach a man..' 'the director who gets Laurence Olivier to play a role in his film is fortunate indeed. a first-rate performance is assured and a matter of course....some stars could learn a great deal from him, not only about acting but also how to act when not acting'.
Before this film, during the 40's, Olivier had won 2 Oscar nominations for acting (for 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Rebecca') and won Oscars for producing, directing and acting in 'Henry v' and 'Hamlet'. He knew about films. In this film Olivier's performance is superlative. The very highest quality. A melodrama in the European naturalistic style, his performance is subtle, nuanced, complex, true and ultimately heartbreaking. So many scenes stand out but particularly: the scene when his son leaves the house to meet his girlfriend. Watch how he listens to him descend the outside steps, turns and then turns back again with hopeless resignation and then waits before going up stairs. The scene in the carriage with Carrie and then when he meets her in the park the next morning, the rush of unexpected hope that is so quickly crushed when he realises that she doesn't know he's married. The scene in which he runs from the house, such an elegant scene, elegantly played by Olivier in which the whole story is moved on. Notice how early on he conveys his passion for Carrie by moving his face in too close to her, when playing cards and then when reading the book. No words. And then of course, Hurstwood's demise. So exquisitely done and painful to watch.
All the performances in this film are excellent especially Eddie Albert's, nicely juxtaposing Olivier's. It's time this film was recognised and promoted for the great classic that it is.
Before this film, during the 40's, Olivier had won 2 Oscar nominations for acting (for 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Rebecca') and won Oscars for producing, directing and acting in 'Henry v' and 'Hamlet'. He knew about films. In this film Olivier's performance is superlative. The very highest quality. A melodrama in the European naturalistic style, his performance is subtle, nuanced, complex, true and ultimately heartbreaking. So many scenes stand out but particularly: the scene when his son leaves the house to meet his girlfriend. Watch how he listens to him descend the outside steps, turns and then turns back again with hopeless resignation and then waits before going up stairs. The scene in the carriage with Carrie and then when he meets her in the park the next morning, the rush of unexpected hope that is so quickly crushed when he realises that she doesn't know he's married. The scene in which he runs from the house, such an elegant scene, elegantly played by Olivier in which the whole story is moved on. Notice how early on he conveys his passion for Carrie by moving his face in too close to her, when playing cards and then when reading the book. No words. And then of course, Hurstwood's demise. So exquisitely done and painful to watch.
All the performances in this film are excellent especially Eddie Albert's, nicely juxtaposing Olivier's. It's time this film was recognised and promoted for the great classic that it is.