This film is based on
a novel by Karen Blixen. It takes place in the Portuguese colony of
Macao in the 19th century.
A subject of town gossip is Mr. Clay, he’s a very rich merchant. Clay has spent many years in China and
he's very old. His clerk Levinsky
reads the company’s counts to him at night for relaxation. He finds the numbers calming. On this night, Mr. Clay tells Levinsky a true
story he heard years ago. It's about a rich man who paid poor sailor 5 guineas to
father a child with his beautiful young wife. Levensky tells Clay that this is a popular old sailor’s
legend and is not true. Mr. Clay
has no heir for his fortune and he has no wife. He decides to make this story come true.
I could not get
interested in this film?? Orson
Welles is made to look very heavy and very elderly to fit his role. Actually, his character is full of
greed and evil!! The story is
difficult to follow, everyone speaks in a monotone and it seems to be a relief
to reach the conclusion!! There is
great emotion, delight and sorrow but all without feeling!! 1 ½* (I really didn’t like this movie)
58
min, Drama directed by Orson Welles with Jeanne Moreau, Roger Coggio, Norman
Eshley.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 92% critic 71%
audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 12 reviews, TCM average
user review 4* out of 5*, Slant Magazine 4.5* out of 5*, DvdTalk average rating
3.7* of 5*.
Special
Note: Filmed in Hauts-de-Seine,
France and Chinchon, Aravaca, Castilla-La Mancha, Catilla y Leon, Spain. Orson Welles had planned for
this film to be made as part of an anthology of adaptations of stories by Karen
Blixen. Originally released on
French TV and later released in theaters.
Karen Blixen is also known as Isak Dinesen and she is the writer of Out
of Africa. This is one of my
favorite books and films.
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