Friday, March 20, 2009

Lean's Lemon?


I'm a huge fan of David Lean and own most of his movies; Bridge on
the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and A
Passage to India, but I had never seen this often overlooked
masterpiece, Ryan's Daughter. This film has often been referred to
as "Lean's lemon", but don't believe it!

Warner Home Video has done a marvelous job with the anamorphic
transfer and Dolby Surround. It's probably even more beautiful than
it was in the theaters in 1970. The sweeping scenes, shot on location
on the western coast of Ireland are breathtakingly magnificent.
Lean's signature pallet of neutrals peppered with bits of red, paired
with Oscar winning Maurice Jarre's fabulous score are enough to
merit adding this one to my collection, as well.

The film is set in Ireland during the 1916-21 Rebellion, with an
impressive cast; Robert Mitchum, in an unusually innocent and
passive role, the fabulous Trevor Howard, John Mills (who won an
Oscar for his fabulous performance as the local village idiot), Leo
McKern (you remember him from Rumpole of the Bailey), and the
lovely Sarah Miles.

This is a two disc special edition with it's original 206 minute running
time, so pick an evening to put on your woolly socks, pop some corn
and settle in for this brooding and stormy epic of a film. Just to warn
you, this movie starts out slow and builds, so hang in there, it's well
worth it.

Thank you so much, Michael (Shouting at Streetlights) for this
recommendation. It was absolutely perfect Irish film for St. Paddy's
week!


47 comments:

  1. Love movies like this, drawing you in without notice, when you suddenly realize the hours have passed, as you were one with the story.

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  2. I saw this when it came out and remember the wild coastline but am going to hire it to watch again. Thanks Willow.
    Happy Days

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  3. You know, I would never remember about this movie if it wasn't for you. I saw it in Portugal many years ago, and this scene you posted brought it all back I was always a big fan of Sarah Miles and truly enjoyed her in this movie. I know what I am watching this weekend Thank you!:) :) :)

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  4. This a classic movie, with some wonderful acting and scenery.

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  5. My introduction to this film was through the soundtrack. My folks came home from shopping and someone had given them an 8-track tape of the soundtrack. I used to listen to it each day in traffic when driving to college. Loved it. I eventually saw the film and loved it too. I remember how wonderful John Mills was in it. As I recall he was nominated for an academy award that year. Thanks for the reminder.

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  6. I remember this film well, when it first aired, and I loved it then. It was very racy, and as a young boy, it was the highly charged sex scene that I remember the most vividly; it appeared quite innocent at a subsequent viewing many years later. Great movie then, and one to which I would still apply that epithet.

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  7. My introduction to this film was through the soundtrack. My folks came home from shopping and someone had given them an 8-track tape of the soundtrack. I used to listen to it each day in traffic when driving to college. Loved it. I eventually saw the film and loved it too. I remember how wonderful John Mills was in it. As I recall he was nominated for an academy award that year. Thanks for the reminder.

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  8. It's been a long time since seeing this one. Perfect for March.

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  9. This movie has just arrived for me from Amazon so I look forward to watching it this weekend. I love a long drawn out saga so no doubt I will love it xv.

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  10. I enjoyed reading your summary of this film Willow and I'm glad you enjoyed it. A wonderful cast and beautifully shot.

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  11. Thank you for another great movie to see! :-)

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  12. It's funny but whenever I think of anything to do with Sarah Miles I just recall that she used to advocate drinking one's wee - and then I have trouble thinking about her as an actress.

    It was a lovely film though and we are also Lean fans in the FF household.

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  13. It's beautiful, isn't it? It may be slow but very powerful.

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  14. It has been overlooked but when you put it next to the films yo mentioned before, you can see why. I agree with you, it should be seen as a movie on its own. I saw it many, many years ago whilst still living in Havana and did not even know at the time that it was by the same director of Bridge Over River Kwai (with its famous whistling scene). Of the flicks you mentioned I must give dr Zhivago another watch soon. I still have on video, as in VHS!

    Many thanks for another richly cinematographic post.

    Greetings from London.

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  15. Hi Willow,

    Yes "Ryan's daughter" is a beautiful piece.It's a long time I haven't seen it though.
    Have a great day at Willow Manor!
    :)

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  16. I loved this movie - I saw it when it just came out in the late 60s. I couldn't understand why the critics didn't like it. But one should not always be led by them either. Mmm, I am alone this evening (except for doggos) so this could be a good Friday evening reward.

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  17. I'll add at Netflix, sounds like one I might really like!
    Carol

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  18. I saw it in the theater way back when it came out. I still have stills of the film in my mind. It was one of those movies that stays with you for quite a while. I was in high school then, would be interesting to see it again as an adult.

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  19. I remember the name of the movie, but I don't think I've ever seen it.

    Thank for the recommendation!

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  20. I remember this one so well, yet somehow had forgotten it until I erad your post. I found it beautiful and atmospheric as few movies are today. Of course, that is part of what Lean did best.

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  21. I agree, I totally love Lean films but never saw this one.
    Not David Lean but did you ever see "Lady Caroline Lamb" --I think you would love it.

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  22. I watched Ryan's Daughter when it came out, haven't seen it again but remember this movie so very well!

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  23. Thanks for reminding me of this wonderfully strange movie, it's been years, must see again with different eyes.

    Saw Lawrence of Arabia as a child while visiting Grandparents in Florida...I was smitten with the movie and T.E.Lawrence at that time, I remember running the dunes on the Arabian horse of my dreams...ahh the soul of the dreamer...

    and I forced my parents to immediatly by me the soundtrack...in vinyl...ha!

    and I still have it!

    s

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  24. It was a good, albeit long, movie ...

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  25. Thank you Willow for reminding me of this film....... I probably would enjoy it more now than then . I imagine I was more concerned w/ the arm around my shoulder and what I was wearing

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  26. I, too, saw this when it first came out and was dumbfounded by critics remarks (don't listen to them anyway!). Was such a fan of Robert Mitchum and like you said, it was a rare role for him.
    Loved it then, and will have to put on my 'to watch again' list.
    Thanks for reminding me!

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  27. Oh my, I am back already!
    Hadn't realised that your post was Friday's already. :-(

    Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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  28. Hello Willow,

    I saw this in the cinema when it first came out and thought it was fabulous.

    I would have been 15 and went with my big sister and her husband. The sex scene made her feel uncomfortable sitting beside me, so she moved to the other side of her husband !!!

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  29. Oh, b' gosh n' b'gora, Ryan's Daughter! Love it! I haven't seen that in years, but you're right--great movie to watch this week!

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  30. These good movies are becoming quite rare here. Or at least the fare we get is different. The photos you have used are nice.

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  31. I stopped by because all the best people I know have hinted about you for a while. They ought to have shouted out loud. You have a most interesting site. I'd love to return and have a coffee?

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  32. Oh, I was wondering what new film to order from Netflix! This just might be the one. Thanks!

    In answer to your question about the Songwriter's music... just click on the "CD' word and it will take you to his website!

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  33. I've always heard of this movie, too . . . thanks for spreading the word on another worthy "oldie." (And Willow, I'm impressed by your ability to keep the Irish theme running!)

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  34. It has been a while since seeing this one. And Mitchum in that subdued role. Big difference from "Night of the Hunter". That one still creeps me out :O

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  35. I remember this as being an absolutely luminous movie. Whatever happened to Sarah Miles?

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  36. All the films you mention have been amongst my favourites - loved Ryan's daughter.

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  37. Kevin gave me this dvd for my birthday (last year?) can't remember, for sure, but I do know that we watched it and loved it. It shot up to the top of my all time faves list.

    The scenery is so gorgeous and the story just draws every emotion out of you until you're left ultimately satisfied (if drained).

    Kat

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  38. I saw this in the local theatre when it came out. The scene where the village "punishes" Ryan's daughter was so powerful-that knowing nothing of the story-my husband, a recent war veteran and very tender person, had to get up and leave. He walked home. I stayed to the end with the couple who had gone with us. For years, I had not seen it again. It is not a film that was showing up anywhere. I think I have caught it once. I had not heard the Lean's Lemon critique. Maybe it is because it was too political, who knows? I have always liked Robert Mitchum, but in this film he was quietly compassionate and powerful, and I adored his character. This one is in the Queue!

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  39. I love "Ryan's Daughter" too. One of my favorites. Pappy

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  40. I've been waiting to have my David Lean festival on the new 40" tv, and this post prompted me to go in and chastise the keeper of the Netflix queue re the tardy arrival of Ryan's Daughter. So thanks for the ammo ;)
    If a Sarah Miles fan, she's supposedly wonderful in The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea, a very disturbing movie I've never been able to get past reading about and actually view...Also, if you haven't seen it yet, I know you'd love the docu on the Z Channel and its most famous programmer, Jerry Harvey, titled Magnificent Obsession. Thanks, Willow!

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  41. This film is shown fairly regularly here in the UK, it's accepted as one of the great classics. Definitley not a lemon. All the actors were fantastic and it was great to see Robert Mitchum in a totally different type of role. John Mills was amazing, but then he was always great.

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  42. Ryan's Daughter is one of my favourites. My mother came from that part of Ireland.

    I have so much to catch up on as I haven't had time to read blogs lately. Yours will be a feast.

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  43. Love the pic of your kitchen window! Really cool.

    I forgot about Ryan's Daughter. Wow. And I'm definitely putting A Passage to India on my netflix list asap!

    Happy weekend Willow.

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  44. I've always wanted to see Ryan's Daughter...you've reminded me I need to! (ps, I have a Vera Bradley wallet too :)

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  45. I saw this when it first came out and have maybe seen it once or twice since. A long movie, but was a good movie. Sarah Miles was great and so was Robert Mitchum.

    Now I think I would like to see it again. I think hubby has seen Bridge on the River Kwai so many times and hence so have I, that it seems like no matter which part he is watching, that if I walk into the room, I know it is this movie. It is one of the greatest movies of all time. Lawrence of Arabia is in this category. Same thing with hubby too. He must be a Lean fan. I must be too.

    God bless.

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  46. I loved Lean's movies, including this one seen in the theatre when it came out. Haunting the townsfolk and the countryside.

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  47. I remember going to this movie with my father in 1970. I was 17, and remember feeling more than a little uncomfortable with some of the scenes. I'm sure he was as well! We really didn't talk about sex much, and had no idea what the movie was about before we went to see it. Great movie, however. I would love to watch it again.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)