Libel (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'Libel' (adapted from a 1934 stage play & directed by esteemed Anthony Asquith) tells quite the brainy, twisty & involving story. While traveling in London, a Canadian commercial pilot named Jeffrey Buckenham (Paul Massie, excellent) sees a telecast in local pub of an interview with Sir Mark Sebastian Loddon (Dirk Bogarde) & Lady Margaret Loddon (Olivia de Havilland) at their grand family home. The Canadian is absolutely convinced that the baronet is a fraud; that he is actually an eerie lookalike actor named Frank Welney (also Bogarde). The Canadian, the baronet, & this lookalike actor were all prisoners in the same German POW camp during WWII and happened to escaped together. One of them disappeared during the escape. But was it Sir Mark Loddon or Frank Welney? Is an impostor living in Loddon's mansion?
The tabloids have a field day with the Canadian's accusations that Welney murdered Loddon during said escape & Lady Maggie urges her husband {or is he?} to sue for 'libel'. The long court case is made quite complex by the fact that Sir Mark, himself, isn't quite sure of his identity. Injured during the war, he often stutters, can't get a particular tune out of his head, & has difficulty remembering parts of his life. As the evidence mounts (swaying back & forth in court), it starts to appear that Sir Mark is, indeed, an impostor & the possible murderer of the real baronet. As the rival lawyers (well-played by Robert Morley & Wilfrid Hyde-White) argue away, even loyal & loving Maggie starts to doubt her 'husband'. Plot twists & drama ensue.
I love watching a stellar film unfold & then totally satisfy with final plot revelations. The filmmakers craft quite a web of plotting here – it is tricky to follow in spots, though, it obviously all makes sense in the end. The acting is great. In a perfect world, Dirk Bogarde would be in contention for a Best Actor nomination at the Oscars. It's a tricky role(s) to play. He must play a man who thinks he's one person but may not be. Or he's flat-out lying & trying desperately to keep the secret safe. He has to change his appearance & his demeanor. He has to appear confident when he may not be. He must be cocky in the flashbacks. And then he's vulnerable when trying to remember his past. It is a varied, nuanced performance that impressed me, greatly.
Olivia de Havilland is wonderful as the wife who remains devoted, but it quietly devastated when realizing that she may be completely fooled by a man who really ISN'T her husband -- that's a horrific thing to face if it's true. I also admired the stoic determination of the Paul Massie character. And both Robert Morley & Wilfrid Hyde-Smith ham it up brilliantly as the friendly opposing lawyers. If I have one minor complaint, it would be that while I enjoyed the climactic scene, the final scene of this very British production felt sweet, but also a bit soft – almost Hollywoodized. But I nitpick. Every filmmaking component of this film impresses {cinematography, sets, make-up, music, etc}. And you can cozy up to it on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
The tabloids have a field day with the Canadian's accusations that Welney murdered Loddon during said escape & Lady Maggie urges her husband {or is he?} to sue for 'libel'. The long court case is made quite complex by the fact that Sir Mark, himself, isn't quite sure of his identity. Injured during the war, he often stutters, can't get a particular tune out of his head, & has difficulty remembering parts of his life. As the evidence mounts (swaying back & forth in court), it starts to appear that Sir Mark is, indeed, an impostor & the possible murderer of the real baronet. As the rival lawyers (well-played by Robert Morley & Wilfrid Hyde-White) argue away, even loyal & loving Maggie starts to doubt her 'husband'. Plot twists & drama ensue.
I love watching a stellar film unfold & then totally satisfy with final plot revelations. The filmmakers craft quite a web of plotting here – it is tricky to follow in spots, though, it obviously all makes sense in the end. The acting is great. In a perfect world, Dirk Bogarde would be in contention for a Best Actor nomination at the Oscars. It's a tricky role(s) to play. He must play a man who thinks he's one person but may not be. Or he's flat-out lying & trying desperately to keep the secret safe. He has to change his appearance & his demeanor. He has to appear confident when he may not be. He must be cocky in the flashbacks. And then he's vulnerable when trying to remember his past. It is a varied, nuanced performance that impressed me, greatly.
Olivia de Havilland is wonderful as the wife who remains devoted, but it quietly devastated when realizing that she may be completely fooled by a man who really ISN'T her husband -- that's a horrific thing to face if it's true. I also admired the stoic determination of the Paul Massie character. And both Robert Morley & Wilfrid Hyde-Smith ham it up brilliantly as the friendly opposing lawyers. If I have one minor complaint, it would be that while I enjoyed the climactic scene, the final scene of this very British production felt sweet, but also a bit soft – almost Hollywoodized. But I nitpick. Every filmmaking component of this film impresses {cinematography, sets, make-up, music, etc}. And you can cozy up to it on a rainy Sunday afternoon.