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Fatal Attraction - Starring Ronald Colman, 19 February 2003
Author:
eva25at from Vienna, Austria
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
(Contains Spoilers)
"I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion." (Ernest
Dowson)
Clemency Warlock (Kay Francis) tries to understand her husband: "What
happened to you? I mean inside of you?". On the eve of their seventh
wedding
anniversary famous barrister James Warlock (Ronald Colman) prided himself
of
being "The last of the virtuous men" and now he is packing in order to
leave
England for good. For: There was a snake in his paradise: John Tring
(Henry
Stephenson) who made him believe that "You deserve some reward for what
you're missing". While Clemency chaperones her sister in Venice James and
John wind up in Soho: Spaghetti, Sauce Bolognese, Chianti - and two
shop-girls for dessert? But James doesn't fall immediately for Doris Lea
(Phyllis Barry): ("It's a respectable girl") but John remains cynical
("Call
no woman respectable until she is dead") and tries to dispel his friends
doubts:("No common ground - with a figure like that?").
The noose tightens when John drags James to a swimming contest where James
has to award a prize to "The girl with the loveliest figure, the quickest
eye and the best stroke"). Doris is here too. When she sprains her ankle
he
even carries her upstairs. It's the old story: there had been another man
in
her life. James still tries to resist:("I'm not good for you. It couldn't
last") but she casts his warnings to the winds - with Ronald Colman in
your
room, wouldn't you? They share an intimate afternoon on a boat, but the
"blue skies" she sings the praises of cloud: His wife is coming
back.
From now on it's "Fatal Attraction" - only talkier. He wants to withdraw
("It's part of me, my life with her"), she won't have it:("I'm part of
your
life too") and threatens to kill herself. His wife smells the rat - no
wonder since he isn't able to look straight in her eyes and answers all
her
questions in the embarrassed tone of a man who has something to hide.
Meanwhile poor, lovesick Doris ("My mind is not on my work") loses her job
and, since she is not able to win him back , carries out her
threat.
During the legal proceedings concerning her suicide Doris's dismayed
girl-friend testifies against him. Soon the question of her "innocence" is
brought up: Was he the first one? Suddenly James discovers a somewhat
distorted way to pay for his sin: rather than to stain the reputation of
the
poor dead girl he incriminates himself...
King Vidor who directed "The Big Parade", the most successful of all
silents, was to direct later four deliriously tasteless camp classics:
"Duel
in the sun", "The Fountainhead", "Beyond the forest" and "Ruby Gentry".
"Cynara" does not exactly fall in this category although the story in
itself
shows some promise: The term in question - virginity - is not mentioned
once, and Henry Stephenson adds some sleazy touches to the proceedings
("They mean it. But they don't know what it means to them"). Ronald
Colman,
however could not be tasteless even if he wanted. Which woman could resist
him? His finely modulated voice lulls the listener (Colman: "I'm a
monotone
speaker". Barry: "You don't bore me") and since love and faith are
universally understood many scenes won't fail to touch you: The moment
when
the desperate young girl writes her farewell-letter in her childlike
handwriting, her last glance from tear-bathed eyes as she waves goodbye to
him from behind the windows of a taxi...
It's an attractive film into the bargain. The set-pieces look as
impressive
as could be expected from the future director of "The Fountainhead". Its
old-fashioned moralistic views make this film all the more entertaining
for
modern audiences, but the acting has stood the test of time: Colman,
Francis
and Barry are excellent while Stephenson remains the thorn in their flesh.
A
truly moving film, very underrated.
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