About Teje Ellis…
In 1955 my family went to Paris. I was 7 years old, and that’s when my love of history and all the trappings that go with it began. At first it was Marie-Antoinette and Napoleon, and as I grew older my interests in history expanded. I read all the historical fiction I could find in the public library, and watched all those wonderful costume dramas on late night tv. (After all, isn’t it all about the clothes and the shoes in the end?) My aunt was a wardrobe mistress at MGM, and that fueled the fire even more. I ended up being a dentist when there were few women in the field, and after 32 years of treating patients, I still have moments of regret that I didn’t pursue history and literature instead of science. But the “time-travel” through books and movies allow me to escape the everyday routine, and vacation in not only other places, but other times.
I have watched two films, both set during the Napoleonic Wars. The first, St. Ives, is based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson. The main character, Jacques St. Ives is a French officer, who has been demoted, and taken prisoner by the English. While being held in jail, a young British woman discovers that the prisoner’s grandfather, having fled the French Revolution, lives nearby. Eventually Jacques escapes, and with several twists and turns, and of course a romance or two, the romp begins. This is not a serious film, and quite fun. The settings and costumes are lovely, and humor is sprinkled throughout.
The second movie, The Duellists, is from a story by Joseph Conrad. Both main characters are French officers in Napoleon’s forces. A minor incident causes Feraud, played by Harvey Keitel, to call out D’Hubert, played by Keith Carradine. Over a 30 year period, the two attempt to complete the duel, which has now become an obsession with Feraud, but circumstances get in the way. The film’s cinematography was beautiful, and showed a lot of attention to detail. The scenes where the French army are in Russia during the winter clearly showed how the Russian winter was what defeated the French. Curiously, this attention to detail, also evident in the sets, costumes, and lighting, did not seem to reach to how the two actors played out their roles. Both Keitel and Carradine were not believable, and therefore, I am at a loss as to how the reviews of this film that I have read could recommend it so highly.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Teje, thank you so much for your reviews. I had never heard of these movies but now I’ll add them to my list of films to find. The first one seems quite funny and I do enjoy that and the beautiful cinematography you mention of the second has convinced me despite the problems with the characters…
I love both Stevenson and Conrad. I’ve never heard about these two movies so I’m grateful to Teje Ellis for her reviews: 2 more films to find and see!
I’ve never heard of either, how fun! I’m looking forward to St. Ives because I LOVE Robert Louis Stevenson. Besides, is that Anna Friel? She’s great!
I’m glad I was able to come up with some new movies for you. I’d like to thank Alex, Ana T. and Ana O. for coming up with the idea of this challenge. I am looking forward to seeing all the different movies and series the participants will be viewing.
I’ve repatriated a DVD of ‘The Duellists’ from a fencing friend to whom I gave it as a gift. I first saw the film way back when, and while I recall it being visually stunning, I wanted to try and engage with the characters. Failed! I take your point entirely, Teje. But then, it is directed by Ridley Scott, whose films work better for me with the sound off. The dialogue can sound like a 1970s Mills and Boon.