This is an interesting "adult" film that must have seemed quite provocative when it came out in 1964, the year of MARY POPPINS and MY FAIR LADY. The abortion element alone today makes it worth a view.
Anne Bancroft is a good actress but seems slightly miscast; no matter how hard she tries she does not convince as a British woman. She does not have the look, the carriage, the accent. Maggie Smith, in a tartly amusing cameo, steals her scenes with Bancroft by perfectly inhabiting her part. There is never a doubt that Smith is in character whereas Bancroft's Bronx accent comes to the surface quite often.
The editing is rather jarring which does not make it easy to follow the plot at times. Viewers are encouraged to pay close attention to avoid missing changes in plot and time sequence.
One wonders how it would have been with Maggie Smith, Audrey Hepburn, or Julie Andrews.
The music, set design, and cinematography are striking; it is a shame that the film is not on DVD to give Ms. Bancroft a chance to add comments before her death a few years ago. As of 7-2007 the film is still not on DVD.
Moviegoers who want to see something adult should give this a try but be warned you might be a little bored, a little confused.
Anne Bancroft is a good actress but seems slightly miscast; no matter how hard she tries she does not convince as a British woman. She does not have the look, the carriage, the accent. Maggie Smith, in a tartly amusing cameo, steals her scenes with Bancroft by perfectly inhabiting her part. There is never a doubt that Smith is in character whereas Bancroft's Bronx accent comes to the surface quite often.
The editing is rather jarring which does not make it easy to follow the plot at times. Viewers are encouraged to pay close attention to avoid missing changes in plot and time sequence.
One wonders how it would have been with Maggie Smith, Audrey Hepburn, or Julie Andrews.
The music, set design, and cinematography are striking; it is a shame that the film is not on DVD to give Ms. Bancroft a chance to add comments before her death a few years ago. As of 7-2007 the film is still not on DVD.
Moviegoers who want to see something adult should give this a try but be warned you might be a little bored, a little confused.