Lady Chatterley
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Movie Reviews of Lady Chatterley
Movie Review: Irreverent and Sensual Adaptation of an Irreverent and Sensual Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This BBC miniseries has a well earned reputation as being much looser and freer with its literary souce (here the source material is not just one work but several works of DH Lawrence)than most literary adaptations for English television. Also, while most BBC productions of literary masterpieces are studies in social conservatism this one obviously identifies with and invites us to identify with its most irreverent and forward-thinking characters: in this case the sultry and sophisticated, and somewhat libertine (in a 1920's kind of way), Lady Chatterly & the earthy and irreverent and smoldering (smoldering both with class resentment and with lust for a lady from the oppressive class) Oliver Mellors. Both of these factors can be attributed to director Ken Russell who has had a long and illustrious career writing and directing some of the BBC's best programs (many of them about musical composers). Russell is nothing if not unconventional and freethinking. Of course most of us in the states know Ken Russell as the director of a handful of cult classics such as TOMMY (1975), ALTERED STATES (1979),and, GOTHIC (1986); all of which feature lurid dream sequences and, some would say, gratuitously lewd situations. But Ken Russell is actually a director with many facets, and Russell's interest in DH Lawrence goes back to at least 1969 when he made what is still the best DH Lawrence adaptation on film, WOMEN IN LOVE (starring Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed & Alan Bates). He then followed that up twenties years later with THE RAINBOW (starring Amanda Donohoe, and Sammie Davis). Both of these adaptations are known for being restrained and fairly true to their sources even though Russell did add some scenes in both which were not in the original books; his additions, however, were tasteful and even added clarity to the material.
What is interesting about this new DH Lawrence adaptation is that Ken Russell seems to have remained interested in DH Lawrence for so many years and for many of the same reasons. DH Lawrence more than any other author in the English language, or any language for that matter, stands for the power of the body and the bodies experience over the power of reason. This was the main theme of his earlier DH Lawrence adaptations and this is the main theme of his latest. But this one is by far the most sensual of the three and that is largely due to the fact that Joely Richardson seems to be the very embodiment of sensual awakening; the actress seems as willing as her character to simply follow the dictates of the body regardless of social norms. Its always a big deal when a high profile actress (especially one with the lineage of Joely Richardson) sheds her clothes on screen, but to do so on British televison for all to see takes more than a little boldness. The nudity is well done and adds to the allure of this BBC classic; no question about that. The greatest scene in the entire 4 hour miniseries is not the nudity, however, but, the vision Joely has before she ever ventures out to that hut in the woods. One night after hearing her blowhard husband, Lord Clifford (who cares more for his family estate "Wragby" and his "class" than he does about any individual), read from Socrates about the white horse of reason and the black horse of desire, she dreams she is riding through a Greek temple full of nude men who seem to be growing like vines out of the stone. This is not something that DH Lawrence ever wrote, this is pure Ken Russell and yet its the most exciting thing in the whole miniseries; plus its the best way to deliver Lady Chatterly's state of mind (or body) to us. DH Lawrence is actually very wordy for one who claims to be interested in the body more than in the mind but Ken Russell has found a visual shorthand for delivering those Lawrentian themes with nice visuals. I only wish there were more moments like this. The most sensual acting is done by Joely Richarson when in her private chambers. And Russell seems to be keenly aware that it is Lady Chatterly's imagination that fires her body. After the horse dream Connie drapes a veil over her head and walks nude through the house down to Lord Clifford's first-floor room. This scene is more imaginatively and erotically charged than any of the actual love scenes that will follow.
The actual affair between Lady Chatterly and Oliver Mellors is a little odd; in fact its very awkward. At first they just agree (sort of) to use each other for sex. But of course that never works and soon they are intimates thoroughly engaged with each other, body and mind, and running naked through the rainy glades and meadows; then sitting nake dbefore a fire and pretending to be Lady Jane and John Thomas. Their "understanding" involves a mutual appreciation of nature, and a mutual loathing of Lord Clifford and the upper-class privileges that he defends as birthrights. Russell gets a lot of mileage out of the Racine and Proust reading and piano and chess playing Lord Clifford and his antagonisms toward all those that he perceives to be lower than himself (pretty much everyone in the coal mining community that he owns; this actor really has fun with this role and Russell obviously enjoys his rants because he gives him so many). Lord Clifford is actually a pretty forward-thinking guy, in his own way, as he does give his wife permission to take a lover, but, arguably, its for selfish reasons: he merely wants an heir. We certainly pity this WWI vet who must cart himself around in various malfunctioning contraptions (metaphors for the mind and its futile tinkerings perhaps; what people are reduced to when they no longer have a functioning body) but he just won't allow anyone to actually like him except his live-in nurse who finds him curiously attractive (a plot thread that Russell leaves undeveloped). He even vents about the lower classes "knowing their place" in the "natural" scheme of things right in front of his house servants. Russell lingers on the face of one table servant as he does so (another striking Russell touch). No mistaking whose side this film maker is on. So this affair of the body between Lady Chatterly and Mellors is actually informed by a social awareness and a mutual understanding and empathy (which one could argue is as much about reason as it is about the body). In any event we eventually come to accept that these two opposties are drawn to one another for a variety of social and sexual reasons: the one perhaps fueling the other.
Lady Chatterly's own father and sister are free-living bohemians; so why exactly she was attracted to the repressed snob Lord Clifford Chatterly is a bit of a mystery. Both her father and sister encourage Connie to find lovers but her sister anyway is as much as a snob as Lord Clifford. We're not certain and we never hear what her father thinks of her affair with the gamekeeper Mellors so we never know if the affair has had social repercussions for Lady Chatterly herself.
The ending is a bit ...well I don't want to give it away. Suffice it to say that it's different than the book and it doesn't quite resolve those class issues that it raised. The answer seems to be: leave England. Perhaps the ending is based on one of Lawrence's short stories. In any event Ken Russell's creative attitude toward the "classics" is perhaps the most attractive thing about this adaptation. I hope his attitude is contagious and will inspire more loose and free treatments of the classics. This cultural freedom is refreshing and liberating (for mind and body).
Movie Review: Interesting character study
Summary: 5 Stars
Just after WWI, Sir Clifford Chatterley has inherited a large country estate and a title. He is happily married to the beautiful Connie. All would be wonderful, except Clifford is in a wheelchair due to injuries suffered in the war. At first the Chatterley's try valiantly to keep that famous British stiff upper lip, but the devastating injury means life can never be the same for them. Their marriage is now sexless, and there will be no children to inherit the title. This takes a toll on their marriage, and Connie finds fulfillment in the arms of the gamekeeper. But wait, it is completely unacceptable for a titled lady to become involved with a working class servant. Had Connie chosen a lover of her own class, society would have turned a blind eye to it. In fact, Sir Clifford had even suggested she should have an affair and have a child that they could raise as their own. Even Connie's bohemian sister is shocked and disapproving of the affair with a rough laborer.
Now, I did read the book, but that was so long ago that I don't honestly remember enough to know if this production is true to the book or not. It seems to be, to the best of my recollection.
This production is lavishly done. The house and the scenery are beautiful. I think at least some of the interior scenes were shot in the same house that was used in Gosford Park. At least, that staircase seems to be the same one. Some reviewers have mentioned the terrible music. I found out the rights for the music used when this program was broadcast were not available when the DVD was released, so other music was substituted. It is repeated frequently, but it didn't bother me.
All the actors do a terrific job, and I felt they were all well cast. I suppose that one could argue that Sean Bean as Mellors is more attractive than he is described in the novel, but he still fits the role. Joely Richardson is good as Lady Chatterley, but the two characters I found most fascinating were Sir Clifford and his nurse Mrs. Bolten. We see Clifford trying to remain cheerful, trying to have a good attitude, but he slowly sinks into bitterness. He becomes spoiled, short tempered, and self centered. This down turn in personality is oddly encouraged by Mrs. Bolten. Yet, she also befriends Lady Chatterley, while on the other hand, she appears to deliberately drive a wedge between the couple. The role of Sir Clifford is played by James Wilby, who just seems to have a blast with the role, especially in parts three and four, when Clifford has gone over the edge.
No review for this film would be complete without mention of the famous sex scenes. Yes, there is a fair amount of nudity. We even see Sir Clifford nude, including close-ups of bed sores on his buttocks. (Imagine being the makeup artist with the task of creating fake bruising on an actor's behind. Imagine being the actor. LOL) Also, there are quite a few sex scenes. Here director Ken Russell does a good job of creating illusions that make you feel the sex scenes are more explicit than they really are. The project comes across as quite sexy, but if you really stop to think about the sex scenes they aren't showing so much. This is definitely a main stream movie, not softcore porn.
I think this DVD will appeal to the sort of people who like Masterpiece Theater, Merchant Ivory films, and British costume dramas. This was a good purchase for me.
Movie Review: Sean Bean in Top Form (Acting and Otherwise!)
Summary: 5 Stars
It is rare that a novel can successfully be adapted to the screen without losing much of its force. Lady Chatterley, Ken Russell's adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, however, loses almost none of the force of the original source. The novel was banned when it came out, and one viewing of Lady Chatterley will explain why.The British VHS box for Lady Chatterley boasts that it is filled with "very, very erotic sex." That is about the most accurate statement you can make about this movie. Lest one get the wrong idea, however, this made-for-TV movie is not pornography. It utilizes the original plot, cutting out some of the more social aspects of the novel, to tell a beautiful story about one woman's search for love -- sexual and otherwise -- outside of her marriage and class.
Joely Richardson, best known in the U.S. for cavorting with Mel Gibson in "The Patriot," here bares it all early and often with Sean Bean. Both of them shine in their respective roles. Ms. Richardson is brilliant as a strong, independent woman whose husband is crippled during WWI, thus basically ending her sexual life prematurely. Sean Bean plays her lowly, gamekeeper lover, Oliver Mellors. The dirty, scruffy, growling Mellors is the perfect vehicle for Sean Bean's talent -- part bad guy, part sensual lover, in many ways a guilty pleasure (much like Sean Bean himself!)
This is not a movie for immature audiences -- it is as beautiful a story as it is erotic, much the way D. H. Lawrence wrote it. Nor is it for the faint of heart -- the sex scenes are revealing and very intense. It is beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and overall, is an amazing cinematic experience. The 3.5 hours are well worth watching, at least for fans of Joely Richardson or Sean Bean.
Although the movie is extremely good, I would definitely recommend reading the original novel as well, particularly the unexpurgated version. Some of the best scenes in the novel were cut for censorship considerations and their inability to work onscreen. Nonetheless, fans of the novel will not be disappointed -- and those unacquainted with the novel will certainly be more than a little surprised at the force and eroticism of this movie.
Movie Review: Five stars, despite its flaws, but because of the two leads...
Summary: 5 Stars
Sean Bean and animal magnetism go together like peanut butter and jelly... Put the actor in a film based on a novel that until 1960's was considered a "shortcut to Hell" and was illegal to print and/or read, and you are bound to come up with an interesting result...
Most of us know the basic story: Constance is married to Lord Chatterley, an impotent paraplegic and a WWI hero. They used to be intelectually compatible... but, is that enough to allow Constance to silence her young body and live out the rest of her life entombed in the Challerley mansion? Can Lord Chatterley combat his jealousy in order to fulfill his desire for an heir? Well, enter Mellors, the gamekeeper...
While young Sean Bean and Joely Richardson (lately of the "Nip and Tuck" fame) create great sexual chemistry on screen, their innocence and a degree of naivete prevent this adaptation from turning into a sordid tale of an affair. Yes, the writing and the direction are a bit choppey and do not raise to the same level of mastery as the novel. Yes, you do wish the director would have abandoned his desire to act (he cast himself as Constance's father). Still, the charisma of the two leads makes this adaptation a fantastic watch and a great companion to the book. And just like the leads in real life, the series has aged well and remains relevant to a 21st century viewer. Ejoy!
PS: The set contains an interesting "the making of" featurette.
Movie Review: Great adaptation of a controversial novel
Summary: 5 Stars
A very good job Ken Russell did by adapting another novel of D H Lawrence. Not only did he directed and co-wrote an adaptation from a very controversial novel who exists in three different versions, though the third is the most common in bookstores, Ken Russell combined elements from the second and from the third version, mixing together only the best elements and keeping the same story together. Like he says in the interview on the dvd, he tried to remain in the spirit of the novel.
Great compliments go to all the actors, including Joely Richardson and Sean Bean, whose chemistry is perfect. Thanks to that, it makes the relationship between all characters believable.
Though the music soundtrack is not the same as the one used during the original broadcasts, apart from the diegetic music played on the piano or on the saxophone by the characters, I found the public-domain music used on the dvd very good. Though it would have been nice to know from Ken Russell in his interview which english composers he used for his original broadcast.
Anyway, an excellent tv series to watch.