Rating: 
Summary: A creepy, gothic tale of lust and deception
Review: "The Beguiled" is one of my favorite Clint Eastwood films, and a departure from his typical early roles. Directed by Don Siegel, with whom Eastwood collaborated on several films, it was made a year before Eastwood's directorial debut with "Play Misty For Me". An alternate title considered for the film was "Pussy-Footing Down At The Old Plantation", which thankfully was not used, otherwise I am sure raunchy jokes about the fact that it takes place at a girls' school would be difficult to avoid. I first saw this movie in one of my college film classes in the mid-1970's, and was immediately taken with it. I only had an old battered VHS tape of it until I recently purchased the widescreen DVD, which also includes the hilarious, awful trailer (which made me laugh out loud, the trailer makes it sound like a "Peyton Place" soap opera, and conveys none of the creepiness of the film).
Eastwood and Siegel had to battle with Universal Pictures to keep the original ending, and they won out. However, the film was billed as a western, which it certainly is not. It is a gothic tale of deception and horror that is set in the time of the Civil War, and an underlying tone of eroticism and sexual tension runs throughout the film.
I'm not putting any spoilers in this review, and if you want to see the film as it should be seen, then be careful of looking this film up on the internet, as spoiler reviews of it do abound.
Clint Eastwood portrays John McBurney, a Union soldier who is shot on Confederate ground and discovered by a young girl from a nearby girls' school. She rescues him and takes him back to the school, but instead of notifying the local patrol of his presence so that he will be taken to prison, the headmistress, Miss Martha (Geraldine Page), her assistant Edwina (Elizabeth Hartman), their black female servant Hallie (Mae Mercer), and the mostly teenage girls take him in, heal him, and fall under his spell. The film sets its tone of creepiness and Gothic horror right from the titles, as it shows real battleground shots from the war, while Eastwood's voice is heard quietly singing a funereal song of the time. The opening scene of his encounter with the little girl who saves him sets the tone of his character, and the tone of the entire movie. To say any more than that would spoil the surprise of their first encounter. To say much more about the film itself might ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it...if you are into creepy, Gothic horror, find it and rent it. Eastwood is excellent in the film, and it is interesting to see him in an early, or any role, where he portrays a character that is for the most part very unsympathetic.
Geraldine Page had a plum role in the film as the headmistress, I cannot imagine another actress of the time being as good in the role; a long shot could have been Piper Laurie, but I don't think Laurie could have embodied the role in the same manner. Her performance was worthy of an Oscar nomination, IMO.
Elizabeth Hartman (who also did a wonderful performance in the film "A Patch of Blue" as a blind girl who falls in love with Sidney Poiter's character) is at her prime here, delicate and masterful at the same time. Unfortunately, her delicacy on film was also a part of her real life; she committed suicide at a young age, having battled depression on and off throughout her brief, and extremely talented, life.
I end this review with this observation: one manipulative, lying Yankee man is no match for a houseful of deceptive and libidinous Southern belles.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating and usualy film
Review: A complete bomb at the time of its release because audiences went expecting a typical Clint Eastwood actioner and instead got this eeire drama about the sexual mind games between a wounded Union Soldier and the "inmates" of an all-girls Southern school. Nearly thirty years later, we can appreciate the film's artistic qualities, the almost surreal direction, and the uniformly wonderful acting. And we can certainly admire Eastwood and legendary director Don Siegel for striking out in a new direction with high quality material.
Rating:
Summary: Eastwood at his best, and it's not even really a western!
Review: A wounded union soldier(Clint Eastwood) is taken to a Southern girls' school by one of the pupils, and soon finds himself locking horns with the eccentric headmistress(the great Geraldine Page) and the other women whose affections he has toyed with. Eastwood is at his best as the philandering soldier, and he's matched by an impeccable all-female supporting cast that includes Page as the strange head of the school, Elizabeth Hartman as a repressed teacher(her big confrontation scene with Clint after she catches him cheating is a knock-out!), and Jo Ann Harris as a sluttish student. Definitely not for all tastes, but a must for those who are game.
Rating: 
Summary: Nauseous
Review: A wretched movie. Should have been titled "The Scorned". A sick and loathful story of emotionally stunted, sexually repressed women ( mostly young ) in a treacherous competition for one manâ''s affection. Deceit abound as the selfless young women put to the test their nascent sexual prowess. However, once a sense of rejection is felt, they will stop at nothing as Kidnapping, Torture, Mutilation, and Murder becomes condoned behavior, and mere inconvenience, in an attempt to force their will. I would compare this to "Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer" as the darkest movie Iâ''ve ever seen. Men will find this movie very objectionable, short of those with severe masochistic tendencies. As the movie depicts females as inherently satanistic, I doubt many women will like it either. Although Eastwood gives a very credible performance, the very premise of the movie is downright painful. The rest of the acting is not worth mentioning. Unless your a member of the Lorena Bobbitt fan club, I recommend you spare yourself the anguish of watching this movie.
Rating:
Summary: ...Oh, there's just "SOMETHING about " this Soldier.........
Review: BEWARE of lonely spinsters, wayward wards, household pets, and that strange mushroon stew-brew .......... dash of Stephen Crane, pinch of Carson McCullers and perhaps a dusting of dear old Tennessee W. in this curious tale of lust, lies, longing and loss set in the not so civil war!Clint Eastwood is the uniform-changing carpetbagger penetrating a mouldy old mansion inhabited by two lonely spinsters [the always excellent and "on the verge of a ... ?"] Geraldine Page and the achingly real Elizabeth Hartman, give or take a few semi hoopskirted minors and the customary Southern Maid. Oh, does he get into trouble in this one! The ladies and girls are at first enchanted by "Mr. Man", then raging hormones kick in and everything changes. [Sorry ma'am, but there jest ain't nuthin' like those Antebellum Baccante-brained belles!] Subsequent activities even include a messy midnight amputation [our studly soldier "restrained" by the Furies]. Performances are quite good, especially Mr. Eastwood, who is rather unsympathetic in this role. "Misery" makes a great company to this one!
Rating:
Summary: No spaghetti, but lots of sauce in this Eastwood western!
Review: Clint Eastwood gives a rare "arthouse" performance in this decidedly off-beat Civil War tale. Clint is the wily fox trapped in the proverbial henhouse as a wounded Union soldier discovered in the woods and nursed back to health by the members of a Southern girls' school. Director Don Siegel (who played Scorcese to Eastwood's DeNiro in a series of 70's collaborations) was not usually associated with making "art" movies, but this one came the closest. Mostly somber and Gothic in tone, with a dash of black comedy thrown in (especially in the scenes where Eastwood gleefully manipulates and seduces various teachers and students). Of course, the chauvinistic soldier eventually gets his due (Stephen King style), but it's an interesting ride along the way. Geraldine Page leads the excellent supporting cast in top form. The depiction of the girls' mass sexual panic amid a claustrophobic, fever dream atmosphere recalls films like "Picnic At Hanging Rock" or "Black Narcissus". Eastwood's boldest performance features a scene in the opening moments that very few "movie stars" would even touch...where he kisses a 12 year old girl in a somewhat lustful manner; repellent behavior, yes, but essential to establishing the character. In other words, don't expect another typical Eastwood shoot-'em up!
Rating:
Summary: A woman's wrath IS sharper than a serpent's tooth...
Review: Clint Eastwood is Corporal John McBurney, a wounded Union soldier given shelter and medical attention at a girls school during the Civil War. They intend to allow him to heal before turning him over to the authorities. But then he starts to take a liking to the ladies - and they to him. He woos and charms them (independent of the others), partially for obvious reasons and partially to keep peace - otherwise they might turn him in, which would certainly result in his dying in prison. Soon the women compare notes on "their" man, and McBurney soons finds himself in over his head. Gothic, stylish, and unpredictable; with a few twists and turns that may startle a first-time viewer. Geraldine Page (as the headmistress) does an impeccable job and is perfect in her role. Eastwood gives an excellent performance, stepping out of his usual screen persona. A hidden Eastwood classic that needs a second look.
Rating:
Summary: Deeper, Darker American Gothic
Review: During the American civil war, wounded Yankee soldier, John McBurney is rescued on the verge of death by a teenage girl from a Confederate boarding school. She manages to get him back to the school, and at first the all-female staff and pupils are scared. As he starts to recover, one by one he seduces the sexually repressed women and the atmosphere becomes filled with jealousy, deceit and brutal revenge. Eccentric, offbeat melodrama combining the conventions of both Western and Grand Guignol chiller, and directed as if it were an art movie, this is one of Eastwood and Siegel's strangest collaborations. Beautifully shot (especially the nightmarishly skewed first person camera perspective of that famous amputation scene, and chiaroscuro lighting effects [such deep, dark shadows]}, carefully paced, this is a haunting, elegant work that seems to have influenced the much later - and inferior - Misery. No disc extras as such, but excellent production notes, and a crystal-clear transfer with well-preserved colour separation make this an essential DVD purchase. Now pass the mushrooms...
Rating:
Summary: somber...
Review: Have all Clint on dvd, and this i must say, had to be the most eeriest, somber movie i ever saw.When you watch it, you say to yourself.."that's Clint?'still a classic, but strange.Cannot wait for the movie after this one, PLAY MISTY FOR ME.these two are great ones!
Rating:
Summary: Eastwood and Company are Quite Beguiling
Review: I don't know what it is, but we in the South just love a movie about the Civil War. It does not matter whether it is historically accurate or politically correct; if it takes place down here, we eat it up. Well, "The Beguiled" is set in the South, so that's its first plus. Secondly, it has Clint Eastwood as a Union soldier "rescued," so to speak by a household headed by Geraldine Page. And third, the rest of the residents are young women, enamored of Eastwood. Eastwood's character takes advantage of the innocence and adoration of the manor's occupants. His John McBurney is not an evil man, but a flawed one, at best. Eastwood does a good job at conveying that fact. Unfortunately his actions have a devastating result. Page, like contemporary Coleen Dewhurst, was one of stage and screen's best. She is perfection in her role as Martha Farnsworth. Elizabeth Hartman, who never had much of a Hollywood career, is quite good, also. Mae Mercer, as the maid, has some interesting exchanges with Eastwood. The remaining cast is made up largely of young unknowns. They do admirable work as the objects of Eastwood's machinations and desires.
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