Rating: 
Summary: unforgettable psychological drama
Review: Julie Christie gives an acclaimed Oscar-winning performance as ambitious, bed-hopping young model Diana Scott in John Schlesinger's DARLING, an unforgettable psychological drama.Diana Scott bullies, bluffs and beds her way to "success" only to find life at the top of the heap empty and unfulfilling. She begins her rapid climb with married reporter Robert Gold (Dirk Bogarde - MODESTY BLAISE, SO LONG AT THE FAIR), only to dump him for sharp businessman Miles Brand (Laurence Harvey - BUTTERFIELD 8). She abandons him for a carefree life with her gay photographer, before settling for the Italian Prince. Diana at first revels in her success before realizing that the Prince will always put his country before private life. Confused and angry, Diana returns to England and to Robert, but he pushes her away and sends her back to her self-made prison in Italy. DARLING candidly depicts the crazed and debauched lifestyle led by many in Britain in the 60's. At first shockingly controversial, the film was nominated for Best Picture in 1965.
Rating:
Summary: Superb, imaginative movie making
Review: Julie Christie is dazzling as Diana in Darling. Of all the films I've ever seen, I rank this one in my top ten list. The camera angles are stunning, the narrative fresh and witty, the tequniques startling, and the acting superb. This is a must-have for any movie lover!!!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding original drama of searching for happiness.
Review: Julie Christie turns in a stunning portrayal of a British model seeking true happiness in life via having several affairs with different men. Her lifestyle results in an abortion, lost hopes, and finally, disillusionment, as she finally reaches her long desired zenith in society. Once she does she clearly sees how empty her life really is. Christie won the Oscar for Best Actress for this film (1965) and it also won Oscars for Best Screenplay and Best Costume Design, for the dresses and mini-skirts she wears in the film set off a fashion trend for the late 60's. It was also a Best Picture nominee. Not rated at the time, but would come under a PG-13 rating by today's standards. It is in black and white and runs just over two hours.
Rating: 
Summary: Great transfer but..........
Review: MGM's new release of DARLING looks beautiful and more pristine than the Criterion Collection's laserdisc edition from 1995. There are no features aside from the (very dated) trailer; commentary from Christie would have been a welcome feature and made this a great one for your collection. The greatest disappointment is in the brief editing within the Parisian brothel sequence: the standard VHS tape that had been floating around for years omitted Christie's nude scene, a couple of shots hinting at oral sex between she and Laurence Harvey, and the brothel sequence. The DVD keeps almost everything in tact except a shot of a man rushing into a room to 'perform' with his cigarette smoking female partner. What you're left watching is a close-up of Julie Christie's shocked face as she stares at a woman smoking. The impact of the scene is gone. Now, the only version of DARLING that is fully intact is the laserdisc from Criterion and late-night showings on TCM. What gives MGM? Are they afraid viewers might not be able to handle such 'shocking' material?
Rating:
Summary: Great transfer but..........
Review: MGM's new release of DARLING looks beautiful and more pristine than the Criterion Collection's laserdisc edition from 1995. There are no features aside from the (very dated) trailer; commentary from Christie would have been a welcome feature and made this a great one for your collection. The greatest disappointment is in the brief editing within the Parisian brothel sequence: the standard VHS tape that had been floating around for years omitted Christie's nude scene, a couple of shots hinting at oral sex between she and Laurence Harvey, and the brothel sequence. The DVD keeps almost everything in tact except a shot of a man rushing into a room to 'perform' with his cigarette smoking female partner. What you're left watching is a close-up of Julie Christie's shocked face as she stares at a woman smoking. The impact of the scene is gone. Now, the only version of DARLING that is fully intact is the laserdisc from Criterion and late-night showings on TCM. What gives MGM? Are they afraid viewers might not be able to handle such 'shocking' material?
Rating:
Summary: Christie ROCKS!
Review: See this movie just for Christie's performance.
Rating:
Summary: social climbing to happiness
Review: This 1965 multi-award winning film is a riveting portrait of a woman who deviously claws her way to the top, in search of "happiness and completion". Julie Christe won an Oscar for her portrayal of Diana Scott, and manages to make this "trivial and shallow" woman interesting.
Frederick Raphael, who also won an Oscar for his work, wrote a story and script that is the basis of what makes this a riveting film to watch. Every scene makes sense, and every phrase has a purpose; there is not a single word that does not belong, or is unnecessary.
It is wonderfully photographed in a very crisp black and white by Ken Higgins, and has an unobtrusive but lovely score by John Dankworth. Director John Schlesinger brings out the best in even the bit players, and most of all, from Dirk Bogarde, who gives a heartbreaking, brilliant performance as one of Diana's stepping stones. Laurence Harvey plays a vain and vile character with the snakelike coldness he is so good at, and of course, Christie is in her prime, and her beauty and talent shine bright.
Though the atmoshpere of the film is caught in the '60s, the story and characters are timeless; this film deserves to be viewed, for its tremendous performances, and as a portrait of how times change, but much of humanity stays the same, and selfish desires, even when satisfied, are but clanging brass.
Rating:
Summary: social climbing to happiness
Review: This 1965 multi-award winning film is a riveting portrait of a woman who deviously claws her way to the top, in search of "happiness and completion". Julie Christe won an Oscar for her portrayal of Diana Scott, and manages to make this "trivial and shallow" woman interesting.
Frederick Raphael, who also won an Oscar for his work, wrote a story and script that is the basis of what makes this a riveting film to watch. Every scene makes sense, and every phrase has a purpose; there is not a single word that does not belong, or is unnecessary.
It is wonderfully photographed in a very crisp black and white by Ken Higgins, and has an unobtrusive but lovely score by John Dankworth. Director John Schlesinger brings out the best in even the bit players, and most of all, from Dirk Bogarde, who gives a heartbreaking, brilliant performance as one of Diana's stepping stones. Laurence Harvey plays a vain and vile character with the snakelike coldness he is so good at, and of course, Christie is in her prime, and her beauty and talent shine bright.
Though the atmoshpere of the film is caught in the '60s, the story and characters are timeless; this film deserves to be viewed, for its tremendous performances, and as a portrait of how times change, but much of humanity stays the same, and selfish desires, even when satisfied, are but clanging brass.
Rating:
Summary: A Marvellous Bag of Talent
Review: This is a wonderful film of its time - Julie Christie in an oscar winning performance as the social butterfly Diana Scott. Like the other British arthouse classic The Servant this is the story of moral decay, and its empty consequences. Made at a time when old rules(homosexuality, abortion,adultery)where under question during the permissive 60's, Schlesinger has created a time capsule of British culture - the Dankworth score is also perfectly of the time and a marvellous melody over the opening titles.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: This is one of the greatest movies from the 1960's and I am glad the Academy took notice and honored Julie Christie and Frederick Raphael with Awards. The entire movie is great and should go into a time capsule - perfectly captures a time & place in history. God Bless John Schlesinger - anyone who can make this and "Midnight Cowboy" is okay in my book!
|
