The Sandpiper
She gave men a taste of life that made them hunger for more.
The authorities force beatnik Laura’s (Taylor) young son to attend a school run by a priest (Burton); the two adults’ initial antagonism turns into affection, but he’s married. One of director Minnelli’s last films is a traditional love story between two people who couldn’t be more different, and as a vehicle for Taylor-Burton it’s an OK movie. The two sides are well balanced, the dialogue stays reasonably intelligent and that song keeps everything on a bittersweet level. Great to see Bronson as an aggressive beatnik, but Saint’s character is very underwritten.
1965-U.S. 115 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Vincente Minnelli. Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo, Michael Wilson. Song: ”The Shadow Of Your Smile” (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster). Cast: Elizabeth Taylor (Laura Reynolds), Richard Burton (Edward Hewitt), Eva Marie Saint (Claire Hewitt), Charles Bronson, Robert Webber, Torin Thatcher. Voice of Peter O’Toole.
► Elizabeth Taylor: “A lot of people, because the plot involves an illicit romance between a bohemian artist and a minister, may think that The Sandpiper was written specifically for Richard and me in order to capitalize on our notoriety. I did feel it necessary to see a rough cut and take out anything so pertinent to us that I would just die. Actually, the script had been knocking around for several years and at first they didn’t ask Richard to be in it. Then, I had to talk him into doing it. We never thought it would be an artistic masterpiece. We were playing two people in love, so it was not particularly difficult. I must say, when we looked at each other, it was like our eyes had fingers and they grabbed hold, and perhaps something special did happen.” (Interview on TCM.com)
Trivia: Sammy Davis, Jr. was allegedly considered for a part in the film.
Oscar: Best Original Song.
film movies elizabeth taylor richard burton charles bronson IMDb
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