Paramount
May 22, 1974
Historical Drama, Historical Comedy
DVD
B-
I can't remember if I've read the Henry James novella. (I definitely have read The Bostonians.) There's something slight and insubstantial about these characters, who keep at arm's length from each other and the viewer. Yet I did enjoy the movie, especially the way that both Daisy (Sheperd) and her mother (Leachman) chatter away, revealing more than they know. (A bit like Jane Austen's Miss Bates actually.) The scenery and sets, as well as costumes are gorgeous, but the pacing is a bit slow, especially for an adaptation of a shortish story. Note that Bogdanovich's love affair with Shepherd somehow worked against the success of the movie at the time (Cary Grant blamed jealous resentment), but now it just comes through in the way he directs Cybill to be charming and lovable.
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