I'm not a particular fan of Elizabeth Taylor, although that's not to say I didn't like her performances. And, in my view, it was the first half of the 1950s (when this film was made) in which she did her most pleasing work. I have to say that at this point in her life, she was extremely beautiful.
One of the interesting things about this film is that it originally starred Vivien Leigh, who had to drop out due to her bi-polar disorder. Taylor was a substitute, and I think a very good one. Some scenes, although not the ones with Taylor, were filmed in Sri Lanka. When the film was mostly re-shot with Taylor, her segments were filmed in Hollywood. There are a few scenes where, from a distance, you can see Vivian Leigh...particularly the beginning of the scene at the Buddhist temple. Some of the on-location scenes are quite stunning, and you get a glimpse of a real tea plantation.
Peter Finch is very good in this film. You're not supposed to like him too much, and he played that just right. Taylor is exquisite. Perhaps better than Finch's role is that of Dana Andrews (who completes the triangle); Andrews is a much underrated actor, possibly due to problems with alcohol.
I like this story -- a marriage between two people who have lived very different lives, and then the jungle and another man come in between them. My only criticism is the scene where the elephants tear down and set fire to the mansion...not as convincing as the rest of the film. But this is definitely worth a watch, although it may not end up on your DVD shelf. The print shown on TCM is nicely restored.
One of the interesting things about this film is that it originally starred Vivien Leigh, who had to drop out due to her bi-polar disorder. Taylor was a substitute, and I think a very good one. Some scenes, although not the ones with Taylor, were filmed in Sri Lanka. When the film was mostly re-shot with Taylor, her segments were filmed in Hollywood. There are a few scenes where, from a distance, you can see Vivian Leigh...particularly the beginning of the scene at the Buddhist temple. Some of the on-location scenes are quite stunning, and you get a glimpse of a real tea plantation.
Peter Finch is very good in this film. You're not supposed to like him too much, and he played that just right. Taylor is exquisite. Perhaps better than Finch's role is that of Dana Andrews (who completes the triangle); Andrews is a much underrated actor, possibly due to problems with alcohol.
I like this story -- a marriage between two people who have lived very different lives, and then the jungle and another man come in between them. My only criticism is the scene where the elephants tear down and set fire to the mansion...not as convincing as the rest of the film. But this is definitely worth a watch, although it may not end up on your DVD shelf. The print shown on TCM is nicely restored.