BECKY SHARP
US, 1935, 83 minutes, Colour.
Miriam Hopkins, Cedric Hardwicke, Frances Dee, Billie Burke, Allison Skipworth, Nigel Bruce, Alan Mowbray.
Directed by Rouben Mamoulian.
Becky Sharp is adapted from a play based on William Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair'. It is an entertaining, precis of Thackeray's classic novel. Miriam Hopkins excels as the ambitious, self-centred, confidence trickster-type anti-heroine. She is matched by Cedric Hardwicke as the sinister Lord Staynes.
The film was directed by Rouben Mamoulian (Applause, Blood and Sand, Zorro, Silk Stockings).
However, the film is of historical interest as the first three-process Technicolor film. Soon after its release, prints were unavailable and a two-process colour version, cut, was in circulation. During the '80s, UCLA restored the film and its colour processes so that it could go into general release and be appreciated for its innovations. While the film is dated in much of its style, Miriam Hopkins' exuberance (and also that of Nigel Bruce) carries the film forward. It is surprising, in retrospect, to see such a sardonic, even cynical, outlook in a film of the '30s.
1. An entertaining film? Its historical value? In the '30s? Now?
2. The status of Thackeray's novel? Providing the basis for this outline? The origins of the film from the stage? Stylised, comic? Costume comedy?
3. The significance of the colour: an innovation for the 1930s, capturing period, costumes and decor? Compositions and design? Action: the ladies' school, society, Brussels, the theatre?
4. Thackeray's title of 'Vanity Fair' and its relevance to the film? The focus on Becky Sharp herself? A strong character in a particular kind of world?
5. Settings: the school, the girls, elite, Miss Pinkerton and her snobbery, the giving of the gift of the dictionary, Amelia and the poem by her school friends, their weeping? Becky and the contrast, her playing up to Miss Pinkerton? The compassion of Amelia? The irony of her throwing the book back at Miss Pinkerton?
6. Becky as an orphan, her past, her case of relics, the stories she told about her parents, her ability to talk, make up tales? Self-centred? Confidence trickster? Antagonism towards Miss Pinkerton? Friendly with Amelia but using her? Her attempts to get Joseph Sedley to marry her? The Sedley snobbery? Her anger? Her going for the job at the Crawleys? The obnoxious children, Sir Pitt as the valet, her seeing Rawdon and deciding to stay? Rawdon sending her to his Aunt Julia and her high-handed treatment of her - admired by Julia? Julia's snobbery as regards marriage? Her weeping at the story that Becky spun about her ancestors? The marriage to Rawdon, wealth, gambling, high society? Her entanglement with George Osborne? The Napoleonic Wars and her eagerness to exploit then? Brussels, the ball on the eve of Waterloo, her entanglement with George and rejecting him? The encounter with Lord Staynes and her playing up to him, his callous attitudes matching hers? Her watching the opening of the battle and going to breakfast? The effect of the war, finding a place in society, achieving her goals? Her guests in her house? Her wit and cynicism? Debts? Pitt and his wife, Pitt's lustful attitude cloaked under morality, his wife and their wanting to do good? Her getting the money from Staynes? Her being caught by Rawdon? Her being abandoned? Her singing in the theatre and the poor reception? The meeting again with Joseph and his helping her? Amelia and the reconciliation? Becky's good nature in urging her to go to Dobbin? A self-sacrificing action? The discussion with the maid and the comparisons for the future? The happy ending with Joseph - and her throwing the morality book at Pitt and his wife: virtue is its own reward? Miriam Hopkins and her vigour, larger than life, callous and sardonic? Likable or not?
7. The contrast with Amelia as the pleasant heroine, the farewell from school, her kindness to Becky, the two suitors, her reason for marrying George? Initial happiness? The snobbery of her family? Her being hurt by Becky? The ball and George’s infidelity? His death and monument? Her loving Dobbin, his following her over the years? her kindness to Becky? Her reading Osborne's letter? Her going to Dobbin?
8. Joseph Sedley and his joking style, awkward, pompous? in love with Becky but the snobbery of his family? Going to India? Arrival back, the Prince? Brussels and his enjoyment? Buying the horses from Becky? Rediscovering her at the inn? His drinking, hiding, rescuing her at the end? Sharing her carefree attitude?
9. The Crawleys: the obnoxious children and their father? Pitt at the piano? His piety, books of morality? His attentions to Becky? Trying to rescue her with his wife?
10. Rawdon and the army, attractive to Becky, sending her to his aunt, the marriage, gambling, his gallantry in the battle, place in society, debts, Becky's getting the money from Staynes, his catching them together, his rejection of her?
11. Staynes and his injury at the Battle of Waterloo, people's attention? Becky's performance for him? The liaison, in society, money and gifts, being caught, his despising her?
12. Aunt Julia and her maid, her earthiness, the searching of Becky's trunk, being moved by Becky’s tales?
13. The picture of English society, Waterloo and the ball, the women and their jealousies, gossiping? London and the parties? Becky’s upset that people would laugh at her downfall?
14. The small sequence with the man who remembered her past glories? Becky's future?
15. Entertaining? The '30s? An adaptation of a classic? The cynical toucan?
