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Reviews
The Swan (1956)
A Very Disturbing Film
I can't give it the "awful" rating because it's beautiful filmed and all the acting is splendid. It's a gorgeous film, and it is simply awful. The woman has had no life of her own, she's been ruled by her mother, done what her mother demanded, and never let herself feel. Finally, the situation between the tutor and the Prince she is supposed to marry, becomes explosive and in that explosion she realizes her true feelings -- more than that: she realizes she HAS feelings. And of course she's a princess and she's going to marry the Prince, it doesn't matter who she loves. But that happens in Roman Holiday and the princess is going to feel it and love the man involved for the rest of her life. The ending of this film with Alec Guinness saying she's the swan gliding through life, having no feelings and he's the same, playing their roles. Oh god, it's horrible. How can anyone call that romantic???? It's a total denial of life.
The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961)
Fascinating drama
This film is beautifully done and exquisite to watch from the beginning of the credits to the final shot. The performances are consistently extremely fine. Angie Dickenson, Peter Finch and Roger Moore head the cast, but each of the supporting characters are also perfectly cast and compelling. The exotic nature of the small village in the Belgian Congo with its primitive leaders and the varying stories of the appealing villagers present a perfect complement to the fundamental story. The basic plot consists of an interesting dilemma for the heroine whose profoundly held religious values contradict human beings' nature. She must deal with that conflict and resolve it in a plot that never loses its power.