20th. Century Fox's THE FOXES OF HARROW is a period romance in the best tradition of "Gone With The Wind". Unfortunately however the picture has a chequered reputation. When it was first released in 1947 it was subjected to a mixed response from critics and public alike with the result it was not a great success and neither the two leads Rex Harison and Maureen O'Hara are remembered for it. As for myself I think it has been unfairly pilloried and misjudged for each time I see it I have to say I really enjoy it despite Harrison being no Clark Gable and the omission of Tecnicolor which no doubt would have helped the movie greatly. But as it stands the picture, based on the best selling novel by Frank Yearby, had a reasonably good screenplay by Wanda Tuchock, splendid monochrome cinematography by Joseph LaShelle and fine workmanlike direction by John M. Stahl.
It is 1820 in New Orleans and an Irish philanderer and gambler Stephen Fox (Rex Harrison) wins not only a vast sugar cane plantation in a card game but also the heart of Odalie "Lilli" D'Arceneaux (Maureen o'Hara) the cream of New Orleans female society. He builds her an opulent and lavish Mansion which he calls Harrow, they marry and begin their life together. But things begin to go wrong on their wedding night and she locks him out of the bedroom. He violently breaks down the door and forces himself on her. Resenting Stephen now she becomes pregnant and has a child. The child, a son they name Etienne is adored by Stephen. He smothers him with love and attention to the chagrin of Lilli who is now all but alienated by Stephen. He begins to drink heavily, gamble to excess and brazenly have affairs. Then tragedy strikes. During one of their many rows the boy overhears them and falls down the grand staircase of Harrow. The boy dies. Stephen is shattered. The son he had lived for is now gone. He storms from the house never to return. More misfortune occurs later when a financial depression hits the country closing the banks and wiping out businesses. The only way of saving Harrow now is the acres of sugar cane growing in the fields. Lilli goes to Stephen and pleads with him to come home and oversee the slaves bringing in the crop. At first he ignores her entreaties but surprisingly he capitulates and suddenly arrives back at Harrow to mobilise the slaves to reap the harvest of cane. The picture ends with Stephen and Lilli embracing at the graveside of little Etinne and vowing to start over and give their marriage another chance.
Performances are first rate from all concerned. Rex Harrison, who would not be everybody's first choice for the lead (Tyrone Power turned down the role), is quite good and gives an excellent portrayal of the philandering Stephen Fox and as the picture progresses you find yourself caring about this character a great deal. Good too is Maureen O'Hara. This was the actress's best period when she was a Fox contract star. At Fox she made some of her most memorable films - "How Green Was My Valley" (1946), "Sentimental Journey" (1946) and "Miracle On 34th Street"(1947). THE FOXES OF HARROW should be added to this list.
Of particular note in the film is the tremendous musical score by composer David Buttolph. This was a totally revealing and unexpected departure for this composer. The Main Title is a sensational swashbuckling variation of the principle theme pointing up the daring attitude and devil-may-care persona of the main protagonist. Then the gorgeous main theme itself - a thoroughly elegant harmonic melody coaxed gently into its fullest expression in the love scenes when, in a muted strings setting, becomes an exquisite and rapturous love theme. Also heard is the attractive waltz themes played in the picture's stunning set piece - The Masked Charity Ball. THE FOXES OF HARROW a positively captivating and engaging score conducted by the great Alfred Newman is David Buttolph's masterpiece!
THE FOXES OF HARROW is a splendid movie and does not deserve its unappreciated and seldom mentioned tag. And now that it has finally been released in a nice clean and sharp quality DVD by Screen Archives classic movie fans can at last reassess and re-evaluate it.
It is 1820 in New Orleans and an Irish philanderer and gambler Stephen Fox (Rex Harrison) wins not only a vast sugar cane plantation in a card game but also the heart of Odalie "Lilli" D'Arceneaux (Maureen o'Hara) the cream of New Orleans female society. He builds her an opulent and lavish Mansion which he calls Harrow, they marry and begin their life together. But things begin to go wrong on their wedding night and she locks him out of the bedroom. He violently breaks down the door and forces himself on her. Resenting Stephen now she becomes pregnant and has a child. The child, a son they name Etienne is adored by Stephen. He smothers him with love and attention to the chagrin of Lilli who is now all but alienated by Stephen. He begins to drink heavily, gamble to excess and brazenly have affairs. Then tragedy strikes. During one of their many rows the boy overhears them and falls down the grand staircase of Harrow. The boy dies. Stephen is shattered. The son he had lived for is now gone. He storms from the house never to return. More misfortune occurs later when a financial depression hits the country closing the banks and wiping out businesses. The only way of saving Harrow now is the acres of sugar cane growing in the fields. Lilli goes to Stephen and pleads with him to come home and oversee the slaves bringing in the crop. At first he ignores her entreaties but surprisingly he capitulates and suddenly arrives back at Harrow to mobilise the slaves to reap the harvest of cane. The picture ends with Stephen and Lilli embracing at the graveside of little Etinne and vowing to start over and give their marriage another chance.
Performances are first rate from all concerned. Rex Harrison, who would not be everybody's first choice for the lead (Tyrone Power turned down the role), is quite good and gives an excellent portrayal of the philandering Stephen Fox and as the picture progresses you find yourself caring about this character a great deal. Good too is Maureen O'Hara. This was the actress's best period when she was a Fox contract star. At Fox she made some of her most memorable films - "How Green Was My Valley" (1946), "Sentimental Journey" (1946) and "Miracle On 34th Street"(1947). THE FOXES OF HARROW should be added to this list.
Of particular note in the film is the tremendous musical score by composer David Buttolph. This was a totally revealing and unexpected departure for this composer. The Main Title is a sensational swashbuckling variation of the principle theme pointing up the daring attitude and devil-may-care persona of the main protagonist. Then the gorgeous main theme itself - a thoroughly elegant harmonic melody coaxed gently into its fullest expression in the love scenes when, in a muted strings setting, becomes an exquisite and rapturous love theme. Also heard is the attractive waltz themes played in the picture's stunning set piece - The Masked Charity Ball. THE FOXES OF HARROW a positively captivating and engaging score conducted by the great Alfred Newman is David Buttolph's masterpiece!
THE FOXES OF HARROW is a splendid movie and does not deserve its unappreciated and seldom mentioned tag. And now that it has finally been released in a nice clean and sharp quality DVD by Screen Archives classic movie fans can at last reassess and re-evaluate it.