Amazingly Sidney Franklin got to direct "Barretts" for the second time since his original 1934 production starring Norma Shearer as Elizabeth, Frederic March as Robert and Charles Laughton as Moulton Barrett.In their roles respectively for the 1957 production were Jennifer Jones, Bill Travers and Sir John Gielgud.I have the videos of both productions so have a means of comparison. I much prefer this 1957 production.Being English, when I hear Americans (Frederic March)who make no attempt to modify their vowels when playing an English character, it sounds so phoney and grates on my ears.The three principal characters in the 1957 film are well cast.Obviously Travers & Gielgud were natives.What is intriguing was casting Jennifer Jones as the famous real life poetess.She is such a fit lady, still with us aged 83,that it was difficult to believe she was supposed to be almost bed-ridden for most of the time.Jennifer had a great love for this part and performed it in an audition piece at the A.A.D.A. with Robert Walker. her future first husband. The plot, set in London in the 1840's is basically about Moulton Barrett, an early Victorian overbearing father who has many sons and daughters but who has a suppressed incestuous desire to control his eldest daughter Elizabeth.It is in his interest to discourage Elizabeth from getting well so she does not have the time to meet eligible suitors.She was conceived in love but the other siblings appear to be the product of his forced attentions on his late wife who presumably died in childbirth. Elizabeth has a gift and love for poetry and writes an epic poem to her beloved "Flush", her King Charles spaniel.She also reads the poetry of the great Robert Browning and they start to correspond with each other.Curiosity overcomes Robert and he visits Elizabeth in her Wimpole Street London W1 address;(the building is no longer there - just a plaque commemorating the site).Romance blossoms and they find they have so much in common.When papa senses what's happening, he plots to hide, more securely, Elizabeth and the other siblings in the country under his tiranical control.Elizabeth's faithful maid acts as go-between between the lovers and eventually leaves with her mistress as she finally leaves the Wimpole street address to get wed in the Marylebone Church,(they actually filmed the scene at the real location), to Robert before a honeymoon in sunny and healthy Italy.Moulton Barrett is thwarted in his spiteful act of intended revenge, since although he wants to put down "Flush" he too has flown the nest. Jennifer Jones was experienced in playing British women,c.f. (Hazel in "Gone to Earth" (1950),Gwendolynne Chelm in "Beat The Devil" (1954).Also of note is Bill Travers' real wife who plays Henrietta who is desparate to marry her soldier boyfriend.There is also a very melodic song which provides a nice music interlude during this film.
Very watchable.
Very watchable.