David MacDonald directed so many bad British movies the quality of this one is a surprise. It helps the story is simple - Othello on the Isle of Skye - and it was shot on location, so looks terrific and is a documentary-ish view of life on the island, and MacDonald came from docos.
Patricia Roc is lovely as the orphan girl who goes to work for laird Finlay Currie and is lusted after by his sons, Duncan Macrae and Maxwell Reed, as well as Andrew Crawford. There's excellent work from Currie, Macrae and Crawford, as well as Will Fyffe (another local) and Roc is very good. In real life she was a good time girl so knowing that makes this more enjoyable. She does a nude swim - at least her body double does - at long distance; we see her backside which has to be some sort of first.
Reed has the right brooding appearance but struggles to act - when he has dialogue he can barely get it out. When he doesn't talk he's fine. But honestly. Come on, Box, surely there were better people around? (Andrew Crawford for instance can act).
Stunning photography. Love the music. It's a tale about a woman in love with an abusive man, like The Seventh Veil also made by Sydney Box. It is one of his better films.
No comments:
Post a Comment