MovieChat Forums > The Misfits (1961) Discussion > What A FANTASTIC Film!!!

What A FANTASTIC Film!!!

posted 16 years ago by missalex
6 replies | jump to latest

I had heard mixed reviews from people who have seen this film. I finally saw it Saturday night and yes, the screenplay was slightly flawed, but overall I found this film to be so FANASTIC! Those scenes with those mustangs were so gut-wrenching and Marilyn's reaction really paralled what I was thinking in my head. I mean I wasn't hysterical or anyhtng but it was awful to see those animals treated that way, even if in the end they were set free.
What makes this movie even more amazing, is the cast! Gable, Monroe and Clift were all extremely flawed in real life, therefore they couldn't have been more perfectly cast in this film. The thing is though, they are all extremely vulnerable - maybe Gable, not so much - i dont know much about him---but Monroe and Clift were definitely tragic figures and very vulnerable in real life. So it is very interesting to see them play these characters in this movie because they too in real life, were magical, wild creatures- just like those mustangs who couldn't be tamed - and although we would have loved to have seen them overcome their addictions and run alive and free like those Mustangs did at the end, sadly it just wasn't to be.
I cannot praise this movie enough! Sure it has its slight flaws in the screenplay, but in no way did that take away from the movie for me. I am not a crazy Marilyn fan, but I found her performance so moving and genuine - she was perfect for the role of Rosalyn. Then there is glorious Monty Clift who was so sad, yet his scenes at the rodeo were childlike - and at the end you could see the pain in his eyes as he watched the tied-up Mustangs - and you are just waiting for him to come to the rescue - you know he has it in him and you are rooting for him to do something! I actually think he was sort of the male equivalent of Marilyn, in real life.
The only thing that sort of bugged me (and it is so minor so don't bite my head off, LOL) is the the sour, permanent, squinty, painful look on Gable's face, especially during the breakfast scene with Marilyn. I would have loved it if he just relaxed his face muscles even just a little bit, LOL. I know he couldn't always be looking into the sun, LOL - but maybe that is a characteristic trait of Gable? I have seen him in so few movies (and he was much younger in them), so maybe that is part of the Gable appeal? I'm not sure...but nevertheless, his performance was really great!
And wasn't it great when Marilyn was trying out the step? Up the step, and down the step- up the step and down the step, LOL - such a fun moment - its like, who cares what people think of you, just do what you like, and be free and live life!
Did I mention I love this movie? LOL

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Loomis_Orange 16 years ago

Not to mention the under-rated and pathetically under-appreciated under-stated performance of the great character actress Thelma Ritter who literally acted rings around any other actor involved in this film without saying a word!

[–] bsanto 16 years ago

I'm laughing out loud now b/c, I, too, have heard mixed reviews of the movie and wanted to see if for myself and make my own judgment. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the movie -- and I wondered, like you did, about the squinting. Thankfully he barely did it in the closing scene when they were in the truck at night. Anyway, my scrutiny of his face made me notice the brown looking area on his lower bottom teeth -- which made me remember an actress -- maybe Vivian Leigh -- complaining about his cigar breathe. I wish he squinted less - it's definitely attractive on him -- I just wish he did it a lot less -- and only outside in the sun -- not over eggs in the morning. :-)

[–] Loomis_Orange 16 years ago

It was his false teeth the actress complained about. He had his teeth pulled... all of them.. back when he first started in film because they were crooked and the studio said they were ugly. He had false teeth breath. I forget what actress complained...I don't think it was Vivian BUT Her husband completely destroyed Marilyn's self confidence during their first meeting. Larry said that Marilyn had yellow teeth and from then on MM was very very nervous and more than reluctant to smile in his presence, which made "The Prince and the Showgirl" an extremely difficult shoot. You see, Lawrence O. was a great and much applauded Shakespearean actor from The Old Vic and Marilyn was a two bit hustling tramp from Hollywood who relied heavily on her sex appeal to make it through. The pairing was not exactly made in heaven.

[–] DingelBerry 12 years ago

Lawrence O. Was an *beep*

[–] PrometheusTree64 11 years ago

The film has that haunting, early-'60s, end-of-the-world, Land of the Midnight Sun, Twilight-Zone-y doomed thing going on.

What could be better? It's a perfect mood piece for the period.

It's funny how some folks just don't get it.

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