Vanessa Redgrave

Most of the interest 'Julia' retains these days is in the controversy surrounding how Lillian Hellman stole another woman's story and appropriated it as her own. I recall seeing the film when it came out, though, and at the time it definitely had the aura of Important Film attached to it mightily. Still worth a re-watch on the strength of the performances, and it's visually a rather lovely period piece.

Agatha I found rather 'meh' at the time and still do. Can't warm up to Hoffman at all--like you, I find him sorely miscast here, and I don't find the mystery all that intriguing, since the most likely explanation is that the Dame took a cheating holiday off from her cheating hubby; the film seems like much ado about nothing. Redgrave is very good, and it's a shame she never appeared in any sort of proper biopic on Christie.

Fairly surprised they didn't shoehorn in Camelot since they are already airing her other effort with Nero. Not a great musical film, but I think she's radiant in it. I'd have also liked to see them run Howard's End--Vanessa's role in that isn't large, but it's pivotal and she's a treat to see (as she also is in Wilde, playing Speranza, Oscar's flamboyant and eccentric mother).

And how could they bypass Blow-Up? Guess if I'd had my way it would have been a marathon, but as you note, nice to see some less frequently aired films of hers on this roster.

50 Is The New Cutoff Age.

And how could they bypass Blow-Up?

I would bring up Isadora (1968) or The Devils (1971) but, as you point out, the woman has delivered many good performances.

jj

The Devils: One of Ken Russell's best films, and I don't wonder that Vanessa was a major reason for that--her Soeur Jeanne is one of the most harrowing performances I've seen on film. Isadora I saw many years ago, and the film really got me interested in the life and career of one of the century's more intriguing eccentric personalities; another beautiful period piece which Redgrave has always seemed especially suited to. Controversial or no, there is simply no just way to deny that the woman is one of the powerhouse film actresses of all time.

50 Is The New Cutoff Age.

Funny note about Howard's End

A very dear friend, generally bright and perceptive , told me when Howard's End came out that she couldn't see what the fuss was about Redgrave. " she seems very dithery and confused , unable to finish a thought" I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was the character of Ruth who was dithery , probably because she was battling a mortal illness. Hey, we all blank out sometimes.

Some other Redgrave faves that belong in a Redgrave festival

Morgan! - an early triumph. I like it now more for Morgan's old commie working class parents. That's a type we don't see much in the states. But David Warner and Redgrave are still pretty charged

Isadora- I had to get this in region 2- worth seeing for her lovely performance. Interesting take on Isadora as a personality, and her dancing, which started a revolution.

Charge of the Light Brigade- at the time it seemed just messy. It's style is not so chaotic by today's standards. Dives head first into the mud , debunking the past so thoroughly you can almost smell the horse manure. Redgrave luminous , almost impressionistic, like a David Hamilton photo. It's nice to have so many versions if her on film


The Seagull- a lovely film of Chekov play with David Warner again, James Mason as Trigorin and Simone Signoret.

Mary Queen of Scots- my favorite film about a favorite royal. Has Glenda Jackson repeating her turn as Elizabeth, giving them the face to face meeting that never took place, but should have. Redgrave shows us a vain, hardheaded queen determined to be strong when she should have been smart, letting emotions rule her. Another stellar cast . Director Charles Jarrott did this and Anne of the Thousand Days, both beautiful historical dramas, then never did another class A project. . Strange.

Mrs Dalloway- manages to show Clarissa's interest in shallow things without judging her too harshly.

The White Countess- Vanessa with Daughter Natasha and sister Lynn , playing tricks on Ralph Fiennes.

Then there are the large number of films which she stole with telling cameos and bit parts-

Cradle Will Rock( her threat to run away and join the gypsies is worth the price of admission)

Mission Impossible - her description of anonymity as a warm blanket should be required viewing for actors studying use of voice.


Atonement- that last 10 minutes pulled the whole film together...



It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

A very dear friend, generally bright and perceptive , told me when Howard's End came out that she couldn't see what the fuss was about Redgrave. " she seems very dithery and confused , unable to finish a thought" I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was the character of Ruth who was dithery , probably because she was battling a mortal illness. Hey, we all blank out sometimes.

LOL about your friend's reaction to the character--talk about method acting!

Morgan's an oldie fave, haven't seen it in a donkey's years. I always liked David Warner (though he never really seemed to take off career-wise in the US, but he has had some interesting appearances here and there); he has very good chemistry with Redgrave in this. You could definitely wish they'd have done a few more projects together, based on the strength of this film.

What a great list, by the way--and thumbs up for the mention of Mrs. Dalloway, an unfairly neglected film and one of the few cinematic attempts of Virginia Woolf that does much justice to the source material.

50 Is The New Cutoff Age.

Warner apparently had some mysterious health issue that sidelined him. He smashed both heels in a fall and had a limp for a long time.

He's an actor I try to see anytime he shows up.

It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

Ever see him as Lysander in the '68 Midsummer Night's Dream? Early role, and he's a wee bit stiff, but it rather suits the character--his interplay with Michael Jayston, Helen Mirren and Diana Rigg is often quite funny. It's grown on me as one of my favorite of his younger roles.

He also has the distinction--I suppose you could call it that--of having played Reinhard Heydrich in two films (both made for TV)--Himmler's SS and the miniseries Holocaust, making him one of the few actors to have played the same historical figure in more than one production.


50 Is The New Cutoff Age.

His Hetdrich was excellent- suggests a back story without going full crazy. I have never seen that Mudsummer nights dream and it's the production I most want to see.

It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.