2 reviews
Sales Rank: 3302

Format: Pal, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 95
Discs: 1

EAN: 5023965121929
ASIN: B00004CI1W

Theatrical Release Date: May 14, 1969
Release Date: August 22, 1994

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Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars

Odd movie, but definitely worth watching... May 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I caught this rather odd but interesting movie at 1 AM on TCM one night (I guess insomnia isn't always a bad thing). James Mason stars as famous, very jaded middle-aged painter who decides to get away from the frustrations of his public life by relocating to a rural Australian island. Unfortunately, once there he finds more frustrations with his eccentric and annoying neighbours, and bothersome former associates who show up unexpectedly. He also meets a young girl (Helen Mirren) who, uh, "re-inspires" him by agreeing to pose for him in the nude.

The tone of this movie is kind of strange; going from light-hearted comedy to sudden tragedy and back again. It was directed by Michael Powell...after this once-respected director had pretty much torpedoed his own career with the movie "Peeping Tom", which was considered unforgivably sleazy on it's initial release, but is regarded as somewhat of classic today. Mason (who also co-produced) plays a role similar to the one he played in Stanley Kubrick's notorious film version of "Lolita". He walks the same fine line between an erudite artist trying to shake off the shackles of bourgeois morality...and a mere pervert lusting after some nubile flesh.

Nevertheless, this movie doesn't take the predictable May-December sex route. It may be a little "politically incorrect" by today's standards, but I actually found it far less creepy than the hypocritical morality of America today (where the media goes into morally-outraged hysterics every time some celebrity nymphet appears in a racy photo or video clip, even as they show this same photo or clip over and over).

For what it's worth, Helen Mirren was well over the "age of consent" in real-life here, and she has the same GREAT body that would become in fixture in British art films and theater over the next three or four decades. This movie has its problems, including its very uneven tone, but it's definitely worth watching.

4 out of 5 stars

a personal favourite June 18, 2001
28 out of 29 found this review helpful

An odd film made when Michael Powell retreated to Australia, following the controversy surrounding his Peeping Tom film. This film is influenced by Shakespears The Tempest in theme (which was apparently an unfullfilled dream project of Powell's), and is a colourful and effervescent little film in which a wondefully crusty James Mason plays an artist going to live on a supposedly deserted island to paint some masterpieces. Instead there is an assortment of odd bods about, the most devine being Helen Mireen (her film debut?). He is tempted by her, and how could he not be. Never has an actress been so comfortable looking on screen whilst nude. Her glorious natural assets make the current silicon set look quite ridiculous. This is not a Powell masterpiece, but a personal favourite. Filmed on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

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