Douglas Sirk is one of those directors one is going to love or one one is going to hate depending on what your stance on melodrama is, which he specialised in. Not every melodrama film of his worked for me but those that did worked wonderfully. He was also one of not many directors to know and understand Rock Hudson's strengths and played to them, have liked other performances of Lauren Bacall and both Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone made big impressions in 'The Tarnished Angels'.
'Written on the Wind' is often considered one of Sirk's best. After seeing it for myself recently, it's not hard to see why. While 'Written on the Wind' is not quite masterpiece level, to me it is a very good film and in the better half of Sirk's filmography. It is not hard to see why Sirk's melodramas would be divisive, a good deal of them are very powerful and interesting but there are some that while well made are very over-heated and fall into unintentional camp and silliness. 'Written on the Wind' is an example of the former.
The weak link is surprisingly Bacall, she is uncharacteristically bland here to me due to playing an underwritten character too meekly. Hudson's character also lacked development but Hudson had a bigger presence and there was more of a sense that Sirk knew what to do with him.
Have a general dislike for too unrealistically neat endings in films with uncompromising subject matters and in films that took risks, which is the case here in 'Written on the Wind'. Admittedly, it does get over the top in spots but many melodramas do and to far worse effect.
So much compensates. 'Written on the Wind' looks terrific, Sirk's films always worked much better in colour where his visual and directing styles are more distinct and showy and the colour is quite ravishing here. It's a beautifully shot film, the costumes are elegant and the settings are both sumptuous and at times lurid (appropriately so). Sirk's direction is some of his best, he is fully engaged with the material and never tries to do too much (failing only with his under-directing of Bacall) and his passion and sensitivity are evident. Frank Skinner's score is closest to his haunting and beautifully orchestrated one for 'The Tarnished Angels' than to his too syrupy and over-bearing one for 'Magnificent Obsession'. The title song is truly lovely as well.
Although the script can be over the top, like in the early portions, and is very soapy, it is also acutely scathing, sincere and bitingly satirical. The story never struck me as dull and deals with heavy themes in a subversive and bold hold no barrels way, have admired this about a lot of films seen recently. One may argue that the film lacks realism, to me the ending was the only part that rang false and it never reached 'Magnificent Obsession' camp levels. While Hudson and Bacall's characters are not that interesting, those played by Stack and Malone are. Stack's being the most realistic and complex and Malone being the most memorable. While Bacall disappoints, Hudson does more than credibly and shows again that he could do heavy drama as well as light comedy. Stack and Malone are even better, Stack amazingly manages to make a less than likeable character human. Malone is outstanding and her Oscar win was deserved, she plays her role to the absolute thrilling hilt and for example her dance scene unsettles.
Concluding, very good. 8/10
'Written on the Wind' is often considered one of Sirk's best. After seeing it for myself recently, it's not hard to see why. While 'Written on the Wind' is not quite masterpiece level, to me it is a very good film and in the better half of Sirk's filmography. It is not hard to see why Sirk's melodramas would be divisive, a good deal of them are very powerful and interesting but there are some that while well made are very over-heated and fall into unintentional camp and silliness. 'Written on the Wind' is an example of the former.
The weak link is surprisingly Bacall, she is uncharacteristically bland here to me due to playing an underwritten character too meekly. Hudson's character also lacked development but Hudson had a bigger presence and there was more of a sense that Sirk knew what to do with him.
Have a general dislike for too unrealistically neat endings in films with uncompromising subject matters and in films that took risks, which is the case here in 'Written on the Wind'. Admittedly, it does get over the top in spots but many melodramas do and to far worse effect.
So much compensates. 'Written on the Wind' looks terrific, Sirk's films always worked much better in colour where his visual and directing styles are more distinct and showy and the colour is quite ravishing here. It's a beautifully shot film, the costumes are elegant and the settings are both sumptuous and at times lurid (appropriately so). Sirk's direction is some of his best, he is fully engaged with the material and never tries to do too much (failing only with his under-directing of Bacall) and his passion and sensitivity are evident. Frank Skinner's score is closest to his haunting and beautifully orchestrated one for 'The Tarnished Angels' than to his too syrupy and over-bearing one for 'Magnificent Obsession'. The title song is truly lovely as well.
Although the script can be over the top, like in the early portions, and is very soapy, it is also acutely scathing, sincere and bitingly satirical. The story never struck me as dull and deals with heavy themes in a subversive and bold hold no barrels way, have admired this about a lot of films seen recently. One may argue that the film lacks realism, to me the ending was the only part that rang false and it never reached 'Magnificent Obsession' camp levels. While Hudson and Bacall's characters are not that interesting, those played by Stack and Malone are. Stack's being the most realistic and complex and Malone being the most memorable. While Bacall disappoints, Hudson does more than credibly and shows again that he could do heavy drama as well as light comedy. Stack and Malone are even better, Stack amazingly manages to make a less than likeable character human. Malone is outstanding and her Oscar win was deserved, she plays her role to the absolute thrilling hilt and for example her dance scene unsettles.
Concluding, very good. 8/10