Desire under the Elms (1958) Reviews

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Director Delbert Mann and screenwriter Irwin Shaw adapt Eugene O'Neill's 20th-century version of a Greek tragedy to the screen with a bit more discretion than need be. The story takes place in the New England of the 1840s. Emotionally cool but passionately hot farmer Burl Ives the smoldering Sophia Loren as his third wife. Anthony Perkins arrives to ignite this powder keg of pent-up lust, with Perkins and Loren engaging in a semi-incestuous love affair. When Loren becomes pregnant, Ives thinks the child is his own and the heat it turned up considerably. And with Eugene O'Neill aping Greek tragedy, could infanticide be far behind? ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Starring:: Sophia Loren, Anthony Perkins, (more)

Director(s):: Delbert Mann

Format(s):: DVD
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(2 member reviews)

Member Reviews

	JASON M.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful

Moderately faithful adaptation of the O'Neill play with fine performances by actors best known for other work. Burl Ives powerful presence dominates much of the movie, offset by a young smouldering Sophia Loren and a cold and calculatingly moody Anthony Perkins. Pernell Roberts, better known for Bonanza and Trapper John M.D. has a small but pivotal role. The screenplay (not written by O'Neill) retains the essence of the tragedy while paring down the language to its most essential and opening the story up cinematically in ways that a stage version can only hint at. An easy if dark watch.

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	Wanda H.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful

very good movie shows how communications can be misunderstood, sad story ...This movie is CC closed captioned for the deaf / hard of hearing which is a plus.. ALL movies should be CC and made clear in the descriptions that ts CC

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