In the 1920s drifter Frank Chambers (Jack Nicholson) starts doing odd jobs for an alcoholic cafe owner Nick (John Colicos). He then meets Nick's sexy young wife (Jessica Lange). Sex and murder follow.
The 1946 version was perfect so, naturally, Hollywood had to redo it. They claimed the original had to be toned down because of the Hays Code (this is true). This version is true to the book--but bad casting and a SLOW pace destroy it. For starters Nicholson is far too old for the role--they needed someone in his 20s or 30s. It seems ridiculous that Lange would fall for someone like him. Also Lange was, at that point, still learning as an actress. She's not terrible but not as good as she usually is either. The sex scenes (which were promoted nonstop during the films production) aren't much. They're more violent than erotic and seriously--do YOU want to see Nicholson nude? Also the story is morbid and slow-moving--I was seriously bored and depressed halfway through. Nicholson manages to throw in one of his worst performances and, as I said before, Lange isn't that good.
This was a major bomb (for some reason the studio chose to release this around Christmas!) and has rightfully been forgotten. A 1.
The 1946 version was perfect so, naturally, Hollywood had to redo it. They claimed the original had to be toned down because of the Hays Code (this is true). This version is true to the book--but bad casting and a SLOW pace destroy it. For starters Nicholson is far too old for the role--they needed someone in his 20s or 30s. It seems ridiculous that Lange would fall for someone like him. Also Lange was, at that point, still learning as an actress. She's not terrible but not as good as she usually is either. The sex scenes (which were promoted nonstop during the films production) aren't much. They're more violent than erotic and seriously--do YOU want to see Nicholson nude? Also the story is morbid and slow-moving--I was seriously bored and depressed halfway through. Nicholson manages to throw in one of his worst performances and, as I said before, Lange isn't that good.
This was a major bomb (for some reason the studio chose to release this around Christmas!) and has rightfully been forgotten. A 1.