I'll never forget seeing this in an old movie theater in my college town in 1968 In that transitional year for films, many of the previous films we had seen up to then were slow, melodramatic films, and some slightly-faster comedies so this movie was "tolerable." It was a long, yes, but had some expansive, impressive cinematography and had some big-name stars to watch in Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. I found it interesting at that time.
When I revisited this film a few years after it was released on VHS, my reaction was: "Wow, have times changed. This is dragging, now." That holds true even more so today in late 2007. This would be very, very tough to sit through at the present, and I mention it for those under 60 who have never seen it. They would probably have the same reaction. It was a different era and stories moved a lot slower than today..
As I look back at all the soap operas that were on screen in the '50s, this one looks so typical for its day. I expected affected fluff from Hudson and Taylor, but I was disappointed in Dean's smaller role in this film. It was not memorable way for him "to go out," although nobody certainly knew a car accident would make this his last movie. If you want to remember Dean in a more positive light, get the DVD of "East Of Eden."
Overall, I still love George Stevens' direction and the photography - but you have to really love the melodramas the '50s to watch this thing in its entirety today. I never wound up really caring about these characters in here, either. Maybe you have to be from Texas to relate.
Methinks this film gets overrated because of the notoriety of its three stars - Hudson, Taylor and Dean (sounds like a law firm!).
When I revisited this film a few years after it was released on VHS, my reaction was: "Wow, have times changed. This is dragging, now." That holds true even more so today in late 2007. This would be very, very tough to sit through at the present, and I mention it for those under 60 who have never seen it. They would probably have the same reaction. It was a different era and stories moved a lot slower than today..
As I look back at all the soap operas that were on screen in the '50s, this one looks so typical for its day. I expected affected fluff from Hudson and Taylor, but I was disappointed in Dean's smaller role in this film. It was not memorable way for him "to go out," although nobody certainly knew a car accident would make this his last movie. If you want to remember Dean in a more positive light, get the DVD of "East Of Eden."
Overall, I still love George Stevens' direction and the photography - but you have to really love the melodramas the '50s to watch this thing in its entirety today. I never wound up really caring about these characters in here, either. Maybe you have to be from Texas to relate.
Methinks this film gets overrated because of the notoriety of its three stars - Hudson, Taylor and Dean (sounds like a law firm!).