The ill-fated Brontes were a fascinating bunch and I could certainly see their story told through entertaining television miniseries. A feature film under two hours does not really do their lives much justice, and even less so, a film which replaces interesting truth with cheap melodrama.
Okay, that was a bit harsh. In truth, Devotion (1946) is not a terrible film. The performances are competent, the production is pleasant (though some of the women's costumes are hideous), and the score is haunting. It is average entertainment, but it is infuriating how it treats the history of these people. The youngest sibling Anne Bronte, a great author in her own right, is shoved aside in favor of Charlotte, Emily, and Branwell. The mad passion of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is ascribed to her unrequited love for Charlotte's husband-to-be Arthur Nicholls (a love which did not exist in reality, I might add). I especially hated that point, since it indirectly downplays Emily's powerful imagination.
The one element which makes this film work is Ida Lupino as the reclusive but talented Emily Bronte. Though the love triangle between Charlotte, Nicholls, and Emily is silly, Lupino excels at portraying the passion of her character. She is the one memorable aspect in this otherwise standard 1940s biopic. Aside from her, I would not really recommend this to anyone outside of the fans of the actors involved or fans of period melodrama.
Okay, that was a bit harsh. In truth, Devotion (1946) is not a terrible film. The performances are competent, the production is pleasant (though some of the women's costumes are hideous), and the score is haunting. It is average entertainment, but it is infuriating how it treats the history of these people. The youngest sibling Anne Bronte, a great author in her own right, is shoved aside in favor of Charlotte, Emily, and Branwell. The mad passion of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is ascribed to her unrequited love for Charlotte's husband-to-be Arthur Nicholls (a love which did not exist in reality, I might add). I especially hated that point, since it indirectly downplays Emily's powerful imagination.
The one element which makes this film work is Ida Lupino as the reclusive but talented Emily Bronte. Though the love triangle between Charlotte, Nicholls, and Emily is silly, Lupino excels at portraying the passion of her character. She is the one memorable aspect in this otherwise standard 1940s biopic. Aside from her, I would not really recommend this to anyone outside of the fans of the actors involved or fans of period melodrama.