Lord Jim 1965 (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

Just saw this movie again after so many years. It wasn't quite what I had remembered it to be. Then, I thought it was up there on the pedestal with Lawrence of Arabia and Zulu.

There is beautiful photography but the acting and whole pic is dreary. The settings are a mishmash of Cambodia, Indonesian, Balinese elements. Whatever haunts O'Toole's character is poorly translated into the film. The other famous actors aren't that great either - Eli Wallach, Curt Jurgens , James Mason, Akim Tamiroff, Jack Hawkins.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Jim_(1965_film)

 

[Fitzgibbon]

Saw it again myself just last week. Definitely not in the same pond as Lawrence or Zulu but for much the same reason as The Duellists does not rate beside Waterloo and War And Peace. Both stories are written by Joseph Conrad; he is not for everyone. These are not historical accounts but rather journeys into the human psyche. The Duellists shines a light on the folly of honour while Jim has a parallel in the interplay of the all too human fear with esteem. Conrad was really questioning what he saw as the unnatural creation of honour and reputation and like principles that do not sit easily with human nature. There were a host of loathsome roles to contrast with the harsh justice meted out to Jim by himself and others for what was in fact not a crime at all. Typical Conrad.

 

[jazzeum]

Saw it again myself just last week. Definitely not in the same pond as Lawrence or Zulu but for much the same reason as The Duellists does not rate beside Waterloo and War And Peace. Both stories are written by Joseph Conrad; he is not for everyone. These are not historical accounts but rather journeys into the human psyche. The Duellists shines a light on the folly of honour while Jim has a parallel in the interplay of the all too human fear with esteem. Conrad was really questioning what he saw as the unnatural creation of honour and reputation and like principles that do not sit easily with human nature. There were a host of loathsome roles to contrast with the harsh justice meted out to Jim by himself and others for what was in fact not a crime at all. Typical Conrad.

An excellent summation of Conrad’s writing.

 

[blaster]

Hello Fitgibbon,

Excellent summary on Conrad's stuff. But I think that Lord Jim could have been a much better movie under a different director. All the elements are there. Good actors, exotic settings, a potentially good plot on redemption.
O'Toole was excellent in Lawrence of Arabia. this was a movie with a lot of introspection but done by David Lean.

But the trite dialogue is just the tip of the problem:

Jim to the girl: Patusan? If you take out the letters US, it becomes Patna. The name of the ship he abandoned. And?
Jim to Stern: You are like a father to me. Help me Papa.... cringeworthy.

I just saw a similar movie Sand Pebbles, Steve McQueen, Richard Crenna. Exotic locate, boats. I think that this a great movie with a lot of introspection, too.

Rgds Victor

 

[Fitzgibbon]

Hello Fitgibbon,

Excellent summary on Conrad's stuff. But I think that Lord Jim could have been a much better movie under a different director. All the elements are there. Good actors, exotic settings, a potentially good plot on redemption.
O'Toole was excellent in Lawrence of Arabia. this was a movie with a lot of introspection but done by David Lean.

But the trite dialogue is just the tip of the problem:

Jim to the girl: Patusan? If you take out the letters US, it becomes Patna. The name of the ship he abandoned. And?
Jim to Stern: You are like a father to me. Help me Papa.... cringeworthy.

I just saw a similar movie Sand Pebbles, Steve McQueen, Richard Crenna. Exotic locate, boats. I think that this a great movie with a lot of introspection, too.

Rgds Victor

Hi Victor,
None has ever done Conrad justice on film. Many have tried. After so many, the evidence should be conclusive. There is a relentless fascination that comes from reading his work and I guess it is tempting for the film artist to try to tell the story in a different medium. But the films, like his writings, are what they are, and movie makers will keep trying; what would Conrad have made of the two attempts at Apocalypse? The movie maker must appeal to a wider audience to drive the economic imperative; not something that bugged a nineteenth Century philosopher.

Bob