Madame Bovary and her lovers
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Madame Bovary and her lovers |
| Original title | Madame Bovary |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1949 |
| length | 94 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Vincente Minnelli |
| script | Robert Ardrey |
| production | Pandro S. Berman for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| music | Miklós Rózsa |
| camera | Robert H. Planck |
| cut | Ferris Webster |
| occupation | |
| |
Madame Bovary and her lovers (original title: Madame Bovary ) is an American drama directed by Vincente Minnelli from 1949. Emma Bovary, played by Jennifer Jones , does not appreciate the love of her husband ( Van Heflin ) and does not just break apart her relationship with Rodolphe Boulanger ( Louis Jourdan ).
The film plot is based on the novel of the same name by Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), which is considered one of the works of world literature and was first published in book form in Paris in 1857.
action
The French writer Gustave Flaubert is on trial because he has been accused of having offended morality and good manners with his novel Madame Bovary . The heroine Emma Bovary is in her demoralizing way a shame for France and an insult to other women and generally a caricature of the French woman. One demands a ban on the book. Flaubert defends himself and rolls out the life of his main character once more before the judges. He explains that he is telling a story about forgiveness and of course there are many women in the real world like Emma. He explains to the judges why Emma could be like this in the first place.
Emma was not only exceptionally beautiful and spirited, but also full of imagination. After she was brought up in a monastery, she came to live with her father on his Spartan farm, where nothing was as she had imagined it to be. When she met the country doctor Charles Bovary there, he rose in her imagination to a romantic hero whom she believed she really loved. They were married a short time later and moved into a modest home in the small town of Yonville in Normandy . While Charles was trying to set up a practice, Emma furnished her new home just the way she wanted it. However, she quickly realized that her husband was not who she wanted him to be. Charles, completely lacking in imagination, did not know what Emma expected of him, although he adored her and wanted to do everything to make her satisfied. So Emma now tried to fulfill another wish, that of a child, but a boy please. When she had a girl months later, she was very disappointed. She hardly took care of her daughter's upbringing, but instead, out of disappointment and boredom, had an affair with the young Leon Dupuis, who was still living with his mother.
Emma's joy was great when she and Charles were invited to a ball in the house of the aristocrat Marquis D'Andervilliers. Emma ignored her husband's arguments that they were out of place there and chose an exquisite evening gown from the dealer Lhereux, which looked great on her and made a big impression on her when she appeared at the ball. While Emma danced almost continuously, Charles found no conversation partners and drank more alcohol than was good for him, which led to an ugly end to the party.
Some time later Emma made the acquaintance of the urbane aristocrat Rodolphe Boulanger, whose lover she became a little later. Emma tried one last time to steer her marriage into the path she had in mind and urged her husband to try a dangerous operation in order to gain fame and money, which Charles refused at the last moment, considering the dangerousness of his Recognized action in time. Emma's hollow fantasies vanished into thin air and so did her hope of happiness with Charles according to her ideas. So she continued her affair with Boulanger. However, he quickly made it clear to her what he saw in her and left her at the moment when she needed him most. This rejection was difficult for Emma to cope with, which is why she almost never got out of bed for months. Then, in a moment of deep depression, the young woman attempted suicide. At the last minute she was rescued by Charles, who subsequently took care of her.
The years passed without anything fundamentally changing, Emma's hunger for life often bordered on madness, which Charles could hardly counter, resignation on his side was the result, since he was unable to help his wife to end her bustle . Emma's regrets came late, too late to win her daughter's love. Emma's Christian upbringing prevailed and, because of her empathy, made her particularly aware of how much she had sinned. The resulting emotional torment was great. When her creditors no longer wanted to be put off any longer, and Boulanger coldly refused her request to help her financially, she saw only one way out of it all, took arsenic and died shortly afterwards in agony Poor of her husband who had never stopped loving Emma, even if she had ruined him not only economically.
After Flaubert has finished his harrowing story, there is no longer a voice calling for his conviction.
production
Original, further films
Flaubert's novel was first published from October 1, 1856 in sequels under the title Madame Bovary: Moeurs de province in the magazine Revue de Paris and ended with the last episode on December 15, 1856. After this first publication, the French government accused the writer alleged that he wrote an immoral story and charged him. Flaubert stood before the court in January and February 1857 and barely escaped conviction.
Albert Ray adapted Flaubert's novel as early as 1932 for Allied Pictures under the title Unholy Love . The plot has been moved to New York and all roles have been renamed. In 1933 the story was filmed by Jean Renoir with Valentine Tessier in the leading role of Emma Bovary and four years later by Gerhard Lamprecht with Pola Negri in the title role . In 1947 Carlos Schlieper filmed the novel with Mecha Ortiz as Ema Bovary. In 1969 Edwige Fenech was in a film adaptation of Hans Schott-Schöbinger Die Nackte Bovary . Another film version was released in 1991. Claude Chabrol filmed the story with Isabelle Huppert in the title role . The last theatrical version to hit the screen in 2014 was by Sophie Barthes with Mia Wasikowska as Emma Bovary .
Further films → see Madame Bovary # film adaptations .
Production notes
The film was shot from mid-December 1948 to mid-March 1949 in the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios in Culver City , California . Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith worked as artistic directors on the film. Warren Newcombe did the special effects. Walter Plunkett took care of the costumes, the production designers Edwin B. Willis and Richard Pefferle took care of the equipment. Sound engineer Douglas Shearer was responsible for the sound.
According to a report in the October 1947 film magazine The Hollywood Reporter , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had hired the writer Robert Ardrey to put Flaubert's story into a script. He is said to have received $ 10,000 for about a year of work. Vincente Minnelli devoted a lot of time to the ball scene, as it was the most important scene in the film for him. Another reason why Miklós Rózsa composed a waltz especially for this scene.
occupation
It was pointed out that Jennifer Jones, Louis Jourdan and Alf Kjellin , who was renamed Christopher Kent for the film, starred by an arrangement made with David O. Selznick . The film marks his debut for the Swedish actor Alf Kjellin. In August 1948, the movie magazine The Hollywood Reporter read that Lana Turner was originally intended for the title role, which Minnellis and Berman's original request was. However, there were voices who said that Turner's erotic charisma spoke against her and someone with a more ladylike aura would be better suited. Selznick is said to have agreed to the award of the actress Jennifer Jones, who is under contract with him, only on the condition that MGM also uses the actors Kjellin and Jourdan, who are also under contract with him, in the film. Van Heflin was the only actor with a leading role who was under contract with MGM. Selznick, who married Jennifer Jones in 1949, is believed to have sent MGM several advisory memos during the filming process, covering everything from Jones' makeup to the development of her character in her role as Madame Bovary. He is also said to have made sure that the makeup artist Dorothy Ponedel was released from her job. Ellen Corby , who later gained worldwide fame through her role as Grandma Esther Walton, can be seen in the film in the role of Felicite as a young woman.
In the film opening credits, James Mason is named last among the actors listed and introduced with the addition: "Actor Gustave Flaubert, the author." In the credits, however, Mason's name is listed second. The film is preceded by the following epilogue: “Gustave Flaubert's acquittal almost a century ago was a triumphant moment in the history of the free spirit. His masterpiece, 'Madame Bovary', has become a part of our heritage and admonishes us to always be truthful to ourselves. ”The story of Emma Bovary is framed in Flaubert's trial. James Mason, in his role as Flaubert, intervenes in explanations throughout the entire film and explains to the judges why Madame Bovary is a tragic figure who has to pay dearly for her sins.
publication
The film premiered in New York on August 25, 1949. It started in 1950 in the following countries: Sweden, Australia, Japan, Finland, France, Portugal and Argentina. It was published in Denmark in 1951, as well as in Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany.
It was also published in Brazil, Chile, Greece, Italy, Poland and the Soviet Union.
reception
criticism
The reviews of the film at the time were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the direction, the script, the camera work and Jennifer Jones' performance. In later reviews it was agreed that none of the later films conveyed the passion, longing and tragedy of Emma Bovary as poignantly as this film.
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times spoke of a "beautiful film version" of the classic novel by Gustave Flaubert, which was implemented fairly faithfully. The story will be given time to unfold and with a host of talents. The result was the best that could have been asked of such a tragic story. Robert Ardrey turned the literary model into a playable screenplay and Vincente Minnelli gave the film the polish and finesse. The high point of his performance is reflected in the ballroom scene, which increases in a vortex of bliss, only to make the fall into disgrace all the worse.
The Bishops' Conference of the United States also spoke of a “fine adaptation” of Gustave Flaubert's novel about the dissatisfied wife of a provincial doctor, which would ultimately bring about the financial ruin of her husband and cost her life. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the inability of this woman to control her passions is portrayed indirectly, but clearly and with a moral perspective by the Flaubert portrayed by James Mason in a court case that opens and ends the film.
Variety came to the conclusion that Madame Bovary as a character study was interesting to look at, but difficult to fill out. The representation of basic feelings in their emotionality is sometimes strange. However, Vincente Minnelli's direction contributes to the fact that the film presents itself professionally and attractively.
Kino.de certified Vincente Minnelli that his "artful melodramatic version [...] is characterized by style, credible focus on Emma's ambivalent soul and the star quality of Jennifer Jones". The framework is formed by "the historical trial against Flaubert (James Mason)". The highlight is "the festive ball, Emma's only happy moment, for which Miklos Rozsa wrote a wonderful waltz".
Classic Film Guide was of the opinion that Robert Ardrey's script was an "outstanding adaptation" of Gustave Flaubert's novel. Also Crazy4Cinema could abgewinnen filming a lot of positives and wrote, among other things, Jennifer Jones was wonderful in their roles, shy, angry and full of lust for life, the verwandele this life in a tragedy of deception and humiliation and leave people on their pretty fast downhill path who were broken in her.
DVD Classik.com spoke of an imaginative staging and elegant camera work, especially with regard to the ball sequence that marked the climax of the film. Minnelli is not only perfectly supported by the technology, but also when it comes to the other positions, such as costume, design, decoration and so on. The dialogues are nice and the scenario is very intelligent. The line-up is flawless, except perhaps for Christopher Kent, who is "bland". Jennifer Jones' play is also a little theatrical at times. Miklos Rozsa's unique style is recognizable from the first note. Conclusion: "Madame Bovary is a beautiful film, even if it does not represent the peak of Minnelli's work."
Award
Academy Awards 1950 : Cedric Gibbons , Jack Martin Smith , Edwin B. Willis and Richard Pefferle were nominated for an Oscar for their performance in the film in the category "Best Production Design" (black and white film) , but it went to John Meehan , Harry Horner and Emile Kuri and the film drama the heiress (the heiress) went.
International Film Music Critics Awards (IFMCA) 2010 "Best Archival Release of an Existing Score"
- nominated for the IFMCA Award Miklós Rózsa for the soundtrack album "Miklós Rózsa Treasury"
Web links
- Madame Bovary and her lover in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Madame Bovary and her lover at Turner Classic Movies (English)
- Madame Bovary (1949) Original trailer and other film clips at TCM - Turner Classic Movies
- Madame Bovary movie posters and pictures from the film
- Madame Bovary (1949) at thisislandrod.blogspot.de (pictures from the film)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Madame Bovary (1949) Screenplay Info at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
- ↑ a b c d Madame Bovary (1949) Notes at TCM (English)
- ↑ Madame Bovary (1949) Original Print Information at TCM (English)
- ↑ a b c Margarita Landazuri: Madame Bovary (1942) Articles at TCM (English)
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↑ Bosley Crowther : "Madame Bovary", Based on Novel by Flaubert, at Capitol - Jennifer Jones in Lead
In: The New York Times , August 26, 1949 (English). Retrieved February 22, 2017. - ↑ Madame Bovary at archive.usccb.org (English)
- ↑ Review: Madame Bovary In: Variety (English). Retrieved February 22, 2017.
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↑ Madame Bovary and her lovers (1949): Stylish film adaptation of the novel by Gustave Flaubert at kino.de
(the images shown belong to the 1991 version with Isabelle Huppert!) Retrieved on February 22, 2017. - ↑ Madame Bovary (1949) at classicfilmguide.com (English). Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ↑ Madame Bovary (1949) ( Memento of the original dated February 23, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at crazy4cinema.com (English). Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ↑ Portrait De vincente minnelli A Travers ses films - Madame Bovary (1949) at dvdclassik.com (French)
