Monday, May 11, 2020

Movie review - "Jedda" (1955) ****

I've seen this a bunch of times but gave it another watch - and was struck by how good it is. The one really bung note is the brownface on the guy who plays Jedda's fiance. The rest is tremendous - the script is strong, and sensible, full of melodramatic power. Maybe silly when Jedda is playing the piano hearing the "call of the wild" (a book surely influential on the Chauvels even if indirectly) but its lean, effective, without an ounce of fat.

Robert Tudawali is a tremendous star - he is electric on screen. The film has unexpected resonance in the metoo era because it's all about ownership of Jedda - she is intrigued by Tudawali but basically he abducts her.

The landscapes and photography are stunning. It's a gorgeous movie. A powerful movie. They just should have had a white man play Jedda's fiance.

No comments: