The only reason I watched this film is because it's the final Jennifer Jones film I haven't seen. The film also features a pretty good cast--with Jason Robards Jr., Joan Fontaine, Paul Lukas and several other very good actors.
The story is from F. Scott Fitzgerald's final complete novel...a story that owes MUCH to his life with his wife, Zelda. In fact, so much is like their actual lives together, it really makes you wonder what's real and what's fictional. This was written during a time when Zelda was institutionalized for mental illness.
Dick (Robards) and Nicole (Jones) have rented a villa in southern France. After inviting some neighboring expatriates to a party, the couple end up getting in an emotional fight. A bit later, through flashbacks, you learn more about them. Apparently Dick was Nicole's psychiatrist! Back in the day, a psychiatrist marrying a patient was not necessarily considered unethical (today it would surely get your license to practice revoked). Anyway, he married her out of some misguided notion that she needed him and he wanted to take care of her. Where all this goes, well, you should just see the film for yourself.
As for the movie, I actually LIKED the plot. But the film was so bereft of life and energy, they managed to take a good idea and make it flat and dull. I think the actors all try hard but I think the fundamental problems were with the script and, perhaps, the direction. Speeding things up a bit and eliminating much of the first portion of the film might have meant less Fitzgerald, but I do think speeding up the plot really would have helped. Also, having more energy...that REALLY would have helped. Not a bad film...but one that seems to plot...and it's two hour running time feels like three.
The story is from F. Scott Fitzgerald's final complete novel...a story that owes MUCH to his life with his wife, Zelda. In fact, so much is like their actual lives together, it really makes you wonder what's real and what's fictional. This was written during a time when Zelda was institutionalized for mental illness.
Dick (Robards) and Nicole (Jones) have rented a villa in southern France. After inviting some neighboring expatriates to a party, the couple end up getting in an emotional fight. A bit later, through flashbacks, you learn more about them. Apparently Dick was Nicole's psychiatrist! Back in the day, a psychiatrist marrying a patient was not necessarily considered unethical (today it would surely get your license to practice revoked). Anyway, he married her out of some misguided notion that she needed him and he wanted to take care of her. Where all this goes, well, you should just see the film for yourself.
As for the movie, I actually LIKED the plot. But the film was so bereft of life and energy, they managed to take a good idea and make it flat and dull. I think the actors all try hard but I think the fundamental problems were with the script and, perhaps, the direction. Speeding things up a bit and eliminating much of the first portion of the film might have meant less Fitzgerald, but I do think speeding up the plot really would have helped. Also, having more energy...that REALLY would have helped. Not a bad film...but one that seems to plot...and it's two hour running time feels like three.