Rachel Rachel is more likely to be one of those movies that managed to get made because the producer happened to be a hot property and was in a position to negotiate deals with film companies, who knew well, that by giving him a free hand to try something 'different', they would garner bigger money from other projects they cast him to 'star' in. And they did.
As Paul Newman's first directorial effort, it's an homage to his extremely talented wife Joanne Woodward. It's Woodward's picture all the way - she is magnificent. Adapted from the pages of controversial Canadian writer Margaret Laurence's novel 'A Jest of God', it delves into the very private and personal life of a 35yr old virgin spinster's existence in a backwoods American town. Some details may border on the semi-sordid but are mostly handled with sensitivity. While the rest of the capable cast all give dedicated performances...take Woodward away from this work and there would be somewhat little left.
This is also at the early stages of a 'new' era in movie-making, where themes of lesbianism and sexual awakenings, etc, were to dominate the screen from here on. Not being as sensationalized as other works would become, this one tends to be less vulgar. Sad is the word for Rachel's life as we drift through her journey of self discovery. The open ended end title scene leaves us with two possible thoughts...she walks with her own child or the child of her sister.....?. Under Newman's direction, versatile director of photography Gayne Rescher (Face in the Crowd '57) fills the screen with delicate, and personal images. Also a major asset, although scant, is Jerome Morosss' truly lovely music score as played by The Phaetons.
The deliberate (or otherwise) pace of this film won't please action fans and might not be regarded as entertainment by others, but could reward those seeking a degree of human introspection.
As Paul Newman's first directorial effort, it's an homage to his extremely talented wife Joanne Woodward. It's Woodward's picture all the way - she is magnificent. Adapted from the pages of controversial Canadian writer Margaret Laurence's novel 'A Jest of God', it delves into the very private and personal life of a 35yr old virgin spinster's existence in a backwoods American town. Some details may border on the semi-sordid but are mostly handled with sensitivity. While the rest of the capable cast all give dedicated performances...take Woodward away from this work and there would be somewhat little left.
This is also at the early stages of a 'new' era in movie-making, where themes of lesbianism and sexual awakenings, etc, were to dominate the screen from here on. Not being as sensationalized as other works would become, this one tends to be less vulgar. Sad is the word for Rachel's life as we drift through her journey of self discovery. The open ended end title scene leaves us with two possible thoughts...she walks with her own child or the child of her sister.....?. Under Newman's direction, versatile director of photography Gayne Rescher (Face in the Crowd '57) fills the screen with delicate, and personal images. Also a major asset, although scant, is Jerome Morosss' truly lovely music score as played by The Phaetons.
The deliberate (or otherwise) pace of this film won't please action fans and might not be regarded as entertainment by others, but could reward those seeking a degree of human introspection.