John Huston's film of the Tennesse Williams play is a nearly great movie featuring what is arguably Richard Burton's best performance. As Shannon, a defrocked priest acting as tour guide for a ladies church group sightseeing in Mexico, Burton is electrifying. He's a depressing and desperate example of human decay...morally, physically and otherwise. NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is all about decay...and frustration and searching for redemption --- and never finding it! Holed up in a decrepit hotel in the hills of Puerto Villarta during the off-season, Burton's motley group includes sexy Sue Lyons and perpetually hysterical den mother Grayson Hall. Lyons --- in full on Lolita style --- does everything she can to further defrock Burton while Hall, in a remarkable performance, does all she can to keep them apart. Burton has bigger fish to fry with the likes of hotel owner Ava Gardner and traveling artist -- or CON artist --- Deborah Kerr. They make for bizarre adversaries.
All of the acting is first-rate. Gardner has never been more striking and Kerr is great as a refined lady who's seen better days. Grayson Hall nearly steals the film as Burton's chief antagonist. Interestingly, this is the rare Tennessee Williams production to feature virtually all strong, and mostly sane, women.
All of the acting is first-rate. Gardner has never been more striking and Kerr is great as a refined lady who's seen better days. Grayson Hall nearly steals the film as Burton's chief antagonist. Interestingly, this is the rare Tennessee Williams production to feature virtually all strong, and mostly sane, women.