FOREVER AMBER
US, 1947, 138 Minutes, Colour.
Linda Darnell, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, George Sanders, Richard Haydn, Glenn Langan, Leo G. Carroll, Jessica Tandy, Anne Revere, Robert Coote, Margaret Wycherly.
Directed by Otto Preminger.
Forever Amber was a sensational film in its day. It seems rather tame now. Kathleen Windsor's novel was notorious and frequently condemned in the 40s. Otto Preminger, who had made Laura and was on the brink of a rather long and flamboyant career as a film director, eg. The Moon is Blue, The Man With the Golden Arm, Exodus, The Cardinal, Advise and Consent etc., directed.
English actress Peggy Cummins was cast in the central part but, after much filming, had to be dropped from the film. Linda Darnell took over and was certainly attractive and quite effective in the central role. Cornel Wilde, a lead at 20th Century Fox at the time. was the dashing hero. Many strong actors and actresses of the 40s fill out the supporting roles very well. Outstanding was George Sanders as Charles II, a role he re-created in the adventure The King's Thief in 1955.
A colourful presentation of Restoration England and its manners and morals, the film was "laundered" for presentation in the 40s. It would be interesting to compare it with the treatment of such situations in the films of the 70s. Perhaps the tidying up of the plot at the making it seem respectable may mean that the film is slightly duller now than it should be. However, it is interesting to look at in retrospect and see what was notorious in the 40s.
1. The film was a famous historical melodrama of its day. The nature of its appeal - costume, history, melodrama, soap opera? The notoriety of the original novel? Audience expectations of this kind of pageant, expectations of depth of treatment?
2. The contribution of colour photography, the pageant of the restoration world, music, the cast at the time, the style? An important memory of Hollywood film making and its history?
3. The atmosphere of 1947 and the treatment of issues from best sellers? The watered-down treatment, "the home edition" presentation of a melodramatic and pot-boiling best seller? Treatment of sexuality themes eg. affairs,
Amber's role as a courtesan, her pregnancy etc.? The changes in treatment over the decades?
4. The scope of the film - its history, the span of Puritan England to Restoration England and the time of Charles the Second. the life of Amber St. Clare, the romance? The historical relevance of such a portrait of another period?
5. The introduction to Puritan England and the atmosphere of 1644? The sombre attitudes, the St. Clare household? The transition to the 1660's and the Restoration, the glamour, the freedom, the licentiousness?
6. The background of Restoration morals, the amorality of Charles the Second and his court? The world of theatre? Affairs and liaisons, marriage?
7. Linda Darnell's style as Amber? Appropriate for the ambiguity of this heroine? Her life at home and her tempestuousness and the inevitability of her leaving? Her hopes for marrying, her serving the guests and her escaping? The fascination of London for this kind of girl from the country? Her ambitions and her becoming a victim to her ambitions, the way that she was exploited, jailed? Her love for Carlton and her hopes, yet her losing him? The effect of this over many years? Her liaisons and her decisions regards Bruce? How well delineated a character? How was she shaped by the events? The credibility of such a character living this way in such an age?
8. The portrait of the men of the time? Bruce as the dashing hero, his friendship with Harry? His behaviour in the early sequences - at Amber's home, in London? Harry and his setting-up of Amber and his hopes in her? Bruce and his love yet his inability to respond to Amber? His losing her and her losing him? The possibilities for Amber's life had she married Bruce?
9. The atmosphere of wealth in London and the exploitation, robberies, the highway, Newgate and its sordid atmosphere? Amber and her wanting to pay her debts, being involved with the cutpurses? Morgan and his rescuing her and the liaison? Her life in the theatre? Duels being fought over her? The gallery of characters involved with Amber at this stage of her career?
10. The character of Bruce, his love for Amber, his decisions about the ship? His presence at the theatre? The King and Bruce's clash because of mutual interest in Amber? His leaving her, the goodbye, the duel and its repercussions?
11. The film tracing Amber's relationships with Bruce and Harry over the years? Her son? The maid? The paying of her debts?
12. The marriage with Radcliffe and its repercussions for her? Position and status? The repercussions on Bruce? The clash with her husband? The harsh attitudes towards Amber? Bruce and his presence in Virginia?
13. The eruption of the plague? The sequence with the old lady and its dramatic impact?
14. The background of the court, the presence of Charles and his womanizing, his seeing Amber at various stages, his decision to have her as mistress? The deal with Radcliffe? His death?
15. Amber's motivation for being with the King? Her presence as his mistress and the impact on the court and the persons there? Her son and her ambitions for him?
16. Her being involved with the plot, the repercussions for Bruce? Bruce and his return with his wife and Amber's evil intent, the malice? Bruce's wife being able to outwit and see through Amber?
17. Amber's final decision and the culmination of the losses she experienced during her life? The film presenting this as poetic justice for her way of life?
18. The presentation of pomp and circumstance, the melodrama of another world, the comparison of the treatment of human issues in historic setting and in contemporary setting? Did the film deserve its controversial reputation?
