TCM Pick O’ The Day — Thursday, August 21st
Posted by Dirty Harry on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
12:30 am - PST - The Night Of The Iguana (1964) - A defrocked priest surrenders to the sins of the flesh in a Mexican hotel. Cast: Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner. Dir: John Huston. BW-118 mins, TV-14
Typical steamy, sweaty, talky, engaging Tennessee Williams but Ava Gardner is the real standout, giving one of her best and most natural performances as the innkeeper stuck with alcoholic tour guide Burton and his disaffected, (he insults them) stranded travellers.
Beautifully photographed on location, director John Huston does a marvelous job with atmosphere and feel, but most especially with his actors, who all shine, but most especially Ava whom TCM celebrates all day tomorrow.
Filed in Classic Films |
Robert Lindseyon 20 Aug 2008 at 7:07 am 1This is an interesting movie. Has that Williams/Inge/Miller playwright naval gazing, but this is one of the best of the lot. I really liked Deborah Kerr. One of her better roles. Besides, it has one of the coolest movie names of all time.
Jack Marinoon 20 Aug 2008 at 7:55 am 2Robert you are so right about this film. Great performances from all and Burton is always awesome and just to hear that voice of his on film is always a pleasure.
Danielon 20 Aug 2008 at 8:33 am 3I’m wondering - how does one adapt a stage play to the big screen and not have it end up being “talky”?
Gilzillaon 20 Aug 2008 at 10:17 am 4If anyone ever gets to go down to Puerto Vallarta check out the little village where this movie was shot. It is just to the south of town and there is a nice little secluded bay there. Plus you can see it if you take the tequilla tour so needless to say it can be really fun. Also it is very near the place where Predator was filmed and you can still see the rusty burned out scrap of the helicopter that was shot down in the beginning of the movie, it is still sitting there in the jungle. It was a really nice tour got some great 100% blue agave tequilla and saw some neat movie history. After we got home we rented Night of the Iguana and it was just that much more authentic and fun.
mojoon 21 Aug 2008 at 8:15 am 5Oh yeah. Burton at his drunken, maniac best. And Ava Gardner, not a spring chicken anymore but still plenty hot.
Night of The Iguana...By Tennesse Williams. Night of the Iguana | Simon Saidon 22 Aug 2008 at 12:56 am 6[…] TCM Pick O’ The Day — Thursday, August 21st 12:30 am - PST - The Night Of The Iguana (1964) - A defrocked priest surrenders to the sins of the flesh in a Mexican hotel. Cast: Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner. Dir: John Huston. BW-118 mins, TV-14 … […]