Ryan's Daughter (B or 3/4 stars)
'Ryan's Daughter' (directed by the great David Lean) is a lushly photographed, if overlong Irish saga in which local schoolteacher, Charles Shaughnessy (Robert Mitchum) is cuckolded by trampy wife, Rosy (Sarah Miles, wife of the screenwriter, Robert Bolt). The marriage btwn. them is passionless; the result of his solemn lack of interest in sex. Troubled by this, Rosy consults the parish priest (Trevor Howard), who tells her that she should be thankful she's married to such a saint of a man. Then, dashing, but shell-shocked British officer Randolph Doryan (Christopher Jones) arrives in the village, assigned to suppress associations btwn. the IRA & German spies; as WWI is raging. Rosy & Randolph are taken with each other & make wild, passionate love in (mostly in the freedom of open meadows).
But when village idiot, Michael (John Mills, in an Oscar-winning turn), innocently uncovers evidence of Rosy's indiscretion, the town runs wild with gossip of Rosy's sinful adultery. Charles lets the gossipers do their thing, assuming that Rosy will come to her senses' let the romance dissipate. With time, an IRA leader then arrives with a boatload of ammunition sent by the Germans, but, believing the Brits will make fierce reprisals against the town, a character (who shall remain nameless) informs on the gun-runners & the Brits swoop in to the sleepy village. Believing that it was Rosy who is the informer, the townsfolk swarm into Charles' house, & exact a humiliating punishment on her (involving nudity & a knife). Melodrama, tragedy, & re-birth {in a manner of speaking} ensue.
'Ryan's Daughter' actually has a pretty interesting story to tell. The acting is quite good - particularly Sarah Miles' Madame Bovary-like portrayal, John Mills, & an uncharacteristically sullen Robert Mitchum. And, of course, the film looks pretty darn incredible - thanks to Freddie Young's lensing of countryside Ireland, beautiful sets, & costumes. That said, the aforementioned 'interesting story' is not told in an overly interesting way. There are too many self-indulgent dull stretches. In the end, I liked what I saw & heard (music). The sex scenes are quite interesting to behold. But at 3 hours (!), 'Ryan's Daughter' just takes too long to say too little. I've seen almost all of David Lean's masterpieces, but I'd say that this one - while not bad - falls near the bottom of the barrel.
But when village idiot, Michael (John Mills, in an Oscar-winning turn), innocently uncovers evidence of Rosy's indiscretion, the town runs wild with gossip of Rosy's sinful adultery. Charles lets the gossipers do their thing, assuming that Rosy will come to her senses' let the romance dissipate. With time, an IRA leader then arrives with a boatload of ammunition sent by the Germans, but, believing the Brits will make fierce reprisals against the town, a character (who shall remain nameless) informs on the gun-runners & the Brits swoop in to the sleepy village. Believing that it was Rosy who is the informer, the townsfolk swarm into Charles' house, & exact a humiliating punishment on her (involving nudity & a knife). Melodrama, tragedy, & re-birth {in a manner of speaking} ensue.
'Ryan's Daughter' actually has a pretty interesting story to tell. The acting is quite good - particularly Sarah Miles' Madame Bovary-like portrayal, John Mills, & an uncharacteristically sullen Robert Mitchum. And, of course, the film looks pretty darn incredible - thanks to Freddie Young's lensing of countryside Ireland, beautiful sets, & costumes. That said, the aforementioned 'interesting story' is not told in an overly interesting way. There are too many self-indulgent dull stretches. In the end, I liked what I saw & heard (music). The sex scenes are quite interesting to behold. But at 3 hours (!), 'Ryan's Daughter' just takes too long to say too little. I've seen almost all of David Lean's masterpieces, but I'd say that this one - while not bad - falls near the bottom of the barrel.