Tags
1970's, Clint Eastwood, Don Siegel, Elizabeth Hartman, Geraldine Page, Jo Ann Harris, Mae Mercer, Pamelyn Ferdin, Psychological Drama, The Beguiled
Film Title
The Beguiled
Director
Don Siegel
Starring
- Clint Eastwood as John McBurney
- Geraldine Page as Martha Farnsworth
- Elizabeth Hartman as Edwina
- Jo Ann Harris as Carol
- Mae Mercer as Hallie
- Pamelyn Ferdin as Amy
A most unusual and unsettling tale of sexual repression, desire and revenge, The Beguiled represents something different from Don Siegel and his go to star Clint Eastwood. And that’s precisely what makes it so unique; it’s an unpredictable film that goes into some really dark areas and knows how to craft something shocking in the long run.
It is the Civil War and Corporal John McBurney is discovered wounded one morning in the South, by a young girl named Amy. She brings him to the all girls school she attends for help to his injuries . The stern headmistress Martha Farnsworth reluctantly takes McBurney in, despite her protestations of him being a Yankee which are discovered early on. The school also houses timid but well-meaning teacher Edwina, a group of young girls including temptress Carol and slave Hallie. These ladies haven’t been in the company of a man for a while, save for the occasional visit from the patrol with news of the war. Gradually, John is nursed into help but watched over due to him bring considered an enemy. But his very arrival signals something very dark that will shake the foundations of everyone to the core. The rigid status quo soon begins to crack as each of the women begin developing romantic longings for John. He leads them all on with his advances and manipulations, his conceit for others slowly emerging as he plays with their romantic feelings for his own pleasure. Even the rigid headmistress Martha starts to get hot under the collar and crumble as the facade of her righteousness stumbles, along with the easily influenced Edwina’s belief that John really loves her. Everything boils over eventually into shocking consequences in the school for everyone there . John is left to fend off the wrath of the scorned women that has been unleashed by his toying with their affections and is now coming back to viciously bite.
This refreshingly unusual and heated film provides Don Siegel with a really experimental film that takes a number of unexpected and shocking turns. It feels very much ahead of its time with some of the content it displays, marking it as different and pretty unsettling at the same time in a pretty psychological way. Don Siegel pitches the mood just right, suggesting the onslaught of dark content that transpires in the latter half, in the slow burn of things that allows The Beguiled to take on a measured but rewarding path to chilling finale. The mood is where The Beguiled is it; creeping away even when nothing startling is happening and throwing in little snippets of potential danger for the fun of it. The Beguiled is at its best as a Southern Gothic drama, that rises to fever pitch as sexual thoughts and betrayal tear the relative calm of the school to pieces. Super imposed frames, spinning camera to signify the unrest he will bring and Sepia toned frames are impressive tools in the arsenal of this strange film. In fact, The Beguiled feels very hallucinatory and disorientating in its construction, captured by the effectiveness of Don Siegel and his off-kilter direction. While the Civil War serves as a backdrop, another war between the sexes rages on in The Beguiled with sheer force and horrifying anguish within the confines of the school. At its core, it’s the male dominance slowly being subverted and oppressed by the female alternative that becomes the real backbone of this claustrophobic story. Stifled and feverish are words that come to mind when viewing the switch of the women in the story, slowly bubbling away until spilling over with John facing the full force of the wronged ladies. Some of it feels too over the top, but the percolating hysteria set off by the sly John is best observed in such an intense way that you can overlook these tiny flawed moments. The culmination of perverse sexuality and dark areas of the mind are evinced best in a hallucinatory dream sequence. In it John is with both Martha and Edwina, the three almost intertwined sexually in disturbing fashion through peculiar angles and overlapping images. An insidiously chilling score allows the unusual nature of this story to reveal itself slowly but surely.
Kudos must be given to Clint Eastwood for playing such an unsympathetic and nasty character. Successfully starting out quietly in his smooth manipulation of the women, his base instincts reveals themselves and his machismo emerges shockingly, resulting in all manner of hysteria among the women. Everything John experiences is by his own hand and it’s a credit to Eastwood’s abilities at capturing his moral ambivalence and greediness of his actions that makes the part an interesting one. Geraldine Page splendidly radiates buttoned-up authority under siege as the headmistress Martha, while laying bare that the morally respectable image she projects is covering something darker. Elizabeth Hartman delicately plays the meekness and abused kindness of Edwina, who falls hardest for John and completely under his spell because of her fragile disposition. Out of all the characters, she’s probably the most inherently decent throughout and the one hurt the most. Jo Ann Harris is good in the role of sultry temptress student, while Mae Mercer is wise as the slave who knows the impact John will have and resists his advances. Pamelyn Ferdin shines as the little girl who rescues him and develops a hopeless crush, only to see it dashed and shattered along with her innocence.
A film not easily forgotten is the best way to describe The Beguiled. With its lurid and unusual story, enlivened by the atmosphere and acting, it stands as a hauntingly intense psychological drama.
Heartafire said:
I love this movie! It’s fabulous…and more than a little creepy.
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vinnieh said:
Creepy and pretty unexpected. It visited some places I thought it wouldn’t go too.
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Jay said:
Boning up for the Coppola?
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vinnieh said:
You could say that.
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raistlin0903 said:
You learn something new everyday they sometimes say. I have never heard of this movie before, but it certainly sounds very intriguing. Great review as always š
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vinnieh said:
Thanks. It’s a very unconventional and atmospheric story. Really perverse in how it examines sexuality and the devastating impact of repression.
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beetleypete said:
I knew you would like it! š
I was only 19 when I saw it at the cinema, and I have never forgotten it.
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
It sticks in the mind. Man some of the images are seared into my brain.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I have to admit I’m not that familiar with Clint Eastwood’s movies, but this sounds really good. I’m heading right over to my library’s online catalog to see if I can request it. Awesome review Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
It’s an underrated film with him in it. Very unusual and feverish, with that added dash of disturbing for good measure.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I do like disturbing. Well, at least in movies and books that is.
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vinnieh said:
You said it perfectly Kim.
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ninvoid99 said:
Definitely an amazing film as I’m planning to do more of Don Siegel’s work in July. This is an incredible film as I too am eager for what Sofia is going to do.
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vinnieh said:
I want to clue up on my watching of his films after this. What a strange yet haunting movie!
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houstonphotojourney said:
OMG how in the WORLD did I miss out on this! Gonna go look for it tonight! Thanks!
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vinnieh said:
It’s something of an underrated movie that’s thankfully getting some notice.
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houstonphotojourney said:
Thanks to you š
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vinnieh said:
I love recommending movies to others.
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keepsmealive said:
No idea this existed. I do love me some Eastwood.
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vinnieh said:
It’s a very different film from what you’d expect, but that’s why it works.
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Paul. Writer and Filmmaker said:
Great review of a very intriguing gothic Western and definitely a change of atmosphere and style from usual Eastwood/Siegel testosterone-charged movies.
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vinnieh said:
I loved how Gothic and shocking it got as the tension boiled into something haunting. The last 45 minutes were pretty intense stuff.
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Paul. Writer and Filmmaker said:
Absolutely. Eastwood is great too playing a bit of an unlikable anti-hero here.
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vinnieh said:
Yes, he goes into some dark territory that ends up coming back to bite.
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Realweegiemidget said:
Love this movie and my fave Clint Eastwood one alongside Play Misty for Me and Dirty Harry… (to be continued)
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vinnieh said:
You can’t beat a bit of Clint.
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Realweegiemidget said:
Or Jack x Or Connery ……
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vinnieh said:
Too true.
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Alex Withrow (@shiftingPersona) said:
Okay, so, I’m an idiot. I honestly had no idea Sofia Coppola’s film was a remake of this. Wow. I can’t wait to watch both back to back when Coppola’s film is released. Great review!
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vinnieh said:
It was only when I heard of the Sofia version, that I discovered this film. Of which I’m thankful. Definitely see this Alex.
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Madame Vintage said:
A great review on such an interesting movie. I do wish I could have gotten my hands on the novel, it’s only when they bring out a movie do I find out about such brilliant writers but I am going to be watching this today hopefully. I’m glad you have brought it to surface before the remake has come out. āŗ
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vinnieh said:
Well I thought it wise to check out this version, then take a look at what Sofia Coppola does with it. I do so love her movie making.
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
This is totally not the type of movie I had in mind for Don Siegel. Definitely a really interesting one nonetheless. I have to say you have quite the writing skill sir. Excellent review.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the compliments. The fact that it was somewhat different as a movie really made it stand out for me. It’s so creepy and supremely dark.
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alexraphael said:
Seen quite a few Clint movies. But not this one. Am definitely curious.
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vinnieh said:
It’s a real change of pace. Extremely disturbing and off-kilter, with sexual overtones.
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Penis said:
Great site chum.!
And you won’t believe this but: just now I got “3,837” hits on my own site_(yahoo).!!!
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Penis said:
Great site chum.!
And you won’t believe this but: just now I got “3,837” hits on my own site_(yahoo).!!! Keep it up chum.
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vinnieh said:
Now that’s mightily impressive my friend.
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Penis said:
Final total last night was_”3,959″ hits.!
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vinnieh said:
You’re doing very well.
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Penis said:
Yeah, big giant leap from the standard_”700″ per day.!
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Penis said:
I’m already up to_”604″..how about you.??
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vinnieh said:
I’ve got 100 so far, slow and steady.
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Penis said:
Yeah, if I could got “4000” per day, I could upgrade myself to the (paid) version to WordPress.!!!
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Penis said:
I got up to “703” hits_yesterday.!!
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Penis said:
It’s 11am and already got_”95″ hits so far.
How are you doing.?
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vinnieh said:
39. Been a bit busy which accounts for shortage of content.
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Penis said:
Yes, I want to know how to add content to mine as well cause mine’s looking like a toilet roll site only_”hehehe”.
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Penis said:
Yeah,..
Well I just sent an email to WP’s_”contact us”- HQ, regarding this for us.!!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks.
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Penis said:
With the mobile app I’ll teach you how to get into and use the support in it, if you need help_okey chum.
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Penis said:
Just got an automatic message from them and their overwhelmed with support questions and backwill answer each one in turn..just be patient.
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vinnieh said:
Cheers.
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Penis said:
And you won’t believe this but: just now I got “3,837” hits on my own site_(yahoo).!!! Keep it up chum.
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Cindy Bruchman said:
I haven’t seen this one, Vinnieh! Nice review. I like Geraldine Page and thought I’d seen just about everything he’s done. Thanks for enlightening me.
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vinnieh said:
She’s pretty sensational in this film. Keeping desire under wraps until it spills over.
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Cavershamragu said:
Sorry to hear that it has been remade as that seems so unnecessary – a terrific movie that, given the director and star combo, was especially surprising and effective at the time.
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vinnieh said:
It’s a pretty unusual movie that gets under the skin. To be honest, I’m interested to see what this new version can bring to the table.
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Pingback: The Beguiled (2017 Film) | vinnieh
allthingsthriller said:
A really great movie that I’ve watched many times over the years. My mother turned me on to it, so I’m especially fond of it. Not your typical Clint Eastwood vehicle. Controversial in it’s time and very unique. The remake pales in comparison, IMHO.
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vinnieh said:
It’s a very strange yet bewitching movie that goes to some very dark places you wouldn’t think a movie would go to.
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