Madame Bovary

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source: Madame Bovary

I am surprised and a little disappointed that this film is overlooked when discussing the best films of director Vincente Minnelli. Even he seemed to disregard it--he gave it very little time in any interview he gave. Yet when watching "Madame Bovary", the film is stunningly, and it seems, lovingly, directed by Metro's master. Every scene is beautifully crafted, and the highlight of course is the ballroom sequence, which seems to be the only part of the film ever thought highly of. All the way through the camera movement, design, pacing, the understanding of the complexities of Emma Bovary's situation are perfect. Even without the performances of the cast all this would make it very, very admirable. Add to that Jennifer Jones' excellent performance in the tile role, alternately child-like and passionate, giddy and neurotic, and you have a great film. Jourdan is also fine as Emma's dream lover, and the criticisms of Heflin's performance as stiff and boring are unjust. He is very subtle, and plays it well. I never thought I would say this, because I'm crazy about the guy, but Mason's intro and concluding trial scenes as author Gustave Flaubert just don't gel with the rest of the film. Mason gives his usual intelligence and consideration to the role, but somehow his voice-over doesn't work? I still liked the Flaubert scenes though, incorporating the author. Minnelli's film stands tall to Flaubert's novel, and it's a wonderful adaptation.

This MGM film sure sports a terrific cast--Jennifer Jones, James Mason, Van Heflin and Louis Jordan! However, no matter how good the cast and production values are, this is a film that was very, very difficult to produce in 1940s Hollywood due to the restrictions of the Production Code. This code precluded the film from fully realizing Flaubert's novel, as frank discussions of sexuality were not possible--the film never would have been cleared for public exhibition. So, the studio softened it here and there--and reduced the impact any film about this book could have had. I am sure a more modern version of the book would be quite a bit different--ad Madame Bovary's infidelities been a lot less vague. The film begins with Dr. Bovary coming to Emma's home to treat her father. The Doctor is quite taken by her and eventually marries her--making her Madame Bovary. While quite pretty, there are some serious warning signs that went unnoticed. First, Emma was a bit childish and lived in a fantasy-sort of world where she expected real life to be like a romance novel! As a result, she's ill-equipped to deal with the boredom that comes with everyday life--as she expects constant passion, excitement and variety--not knowing even the rich and powerful live that way! Second, there is a huge disparity between the head in the clouds Emma and her rather nice but bland husband. He cannot possibly live up to her ridiculously high expectations of a man--and soon she goes searching for excitement on her own. Not surprisingly, she gravitates towards affairs, though in time, these, too, are unsatisfying--even lovers cannot always create excitement and distractions. Eventually, this leads to disaster and the story ends. Not surprisingly, many story elements have been omitted--some due to the code and some due to the confines of a full-length film. For example, the Doctor's first marriage and significant periods in Emma's life are absent--though the spirit of the book is mostly intact. While not exactly intended, the film seems to be an interesting portrait of what we might now consider to be a Borderline Personality or at least a person with strong Borderline traits. The inability to cope with boredom, interpersonal shallowness, the tendency to self-sabotage and craving for excitement and addiction (in this case, sexual and spending addiction) are all important hallmarks of this disorder. Such classifications were unknown in Flaubert's time, though he clearly seems to be describing such a person in Emma Bovary. There is only one problem with such a portrait, however. Emma Bovary is in no way sympathetic--she is selfish, vain and pretty stupid. And, to make things worse, her husband is an utter fool as well, as he willfully ignores his wife's 'excesses'. As a result, it's a lovely movie to watch (it is a very glossy MGM production) but its also detached and hard to love...much like Madame Bovary herself!

Madame Bovary is directed by Vincente Minnelli and adapted to screenplay by Robert Ardrey from the Gustave Flaubert novel. It stars Jennifer Jones, Van Heflin, Louis Jourdan, Alf Kjellin, Gene Lockhart and James Mason. Music is by Miklós Rózsa and cinematography by Robert H. Planck. It's most interesting now watching Minnelli's picture and being able to place it in the time it was made. Also of major interest is reading up on what the critics of the time had to say about it. This version is an undoubted lesson in the technical crafts of film making, the visuals, the sound, art design, costuming and a literary pumped screenplay that allows the cast to play it classical. It's also black hearted, perfectly in keeping with the gathering storm of the era that was film noir. Here is the monster. Some of the complaints about the film, to me anyway, just don't add up. Why do we need to care about anyone in this story? It's a dark tale of illicit passions, greed, betrayals, bad parenting and etc. Is this frowned upon in some circles because of love for the classic novel? Or because there's some esteem held for other versions? The criticism of Jones is also very suspect given it's a classic femme fatale performance, Emma is cold and driven and shallow to others feelings, Jones works it perfectly. As Rózsa's beautiful lush and poignant musical arrangements drift and hover over the various story instalments, Minnelli brings the film making guile. His camera work is sublime, like a ghost moving about the characters for the more vibrant scenes, tracking and roving, dizzyingly beautiful. At others it's close and personal, imbuing Emma's claustrophobia, with the black and white contrasts superbly photographed by Planck. So it doesn't capture the essence of Flaubert's intent, then? Emma Bovary a figure of hate instead of sympathy, the lack of a caustic aside on a society of double standards? So what! Outstanding film making is just that, especially when it can tune into a style of film making prevalent at its birth. Madame Bovary - maybe the most film noir movie not actually considered a film noir. Brilliant. 9/10

Hollywood's record on film adaptations of classic literature is fairly respectable, keeping in mind the ever present eye on the box office. What pleased me most about this 1949 version of "Madame Bovary" is in fact its modesty. This probably has more to do with budget constraints than anything, but there is something small scale and decidedly unpretentious about it. While Jennifer Jones and Van Heflin may not be quite B movie actors, they were secondary level stars. Jones did not have the classical beauty of many of her contemporaries, which is in keeping with Flaubert's description of Emma Bovary, and Heflin's lack of charisma certainly suits Charles Bovary well. Jones' performance is fairly good, with only occasional lapses into excessive Hollywood emoting. Despite Selznick's grooming she never quite became the star he intended for her. (Her best performance remains in the surprisingly comic role of Lubitch's "Cluny Brown"). All in all she captures much of Emma's desperation, but there is a distinct lacking in depth. Heflin has the easier role and pulls it off well. Although this version sticks closely to the novel, one small change does however alter things significantly. Charles Bovary was clearly what we would call a "loser". Emma comes to this realization early on. She encourages him to perform an innovative operation to cure a young man's club foot, hoping this act will finally win him fame and status. In the novel, Charles remains unaware of his obvious limitations. Not only is he a loser, his has little understanding of himself, and his professional abilities. He botches the operation, which further drives Emma apart. While this isn't meant to justify Emma's behaviour in the eyes of the reader, it certainly helps to explain her basic rejection of her husband. In the film however, at the very second he is about to perform the operation, Bovary realizes that it in fact a bad idea and stops the proceedings. He is thus endowed with qualities that Flaubert did not intend. Minnelli plays it safe. As can be expected his direction is solid and professional. As many have pointed out the ballroom scene is handled superbly. However, ultimately the film does not leave a lasting impression, despite its well intentioned and well executed efforts.

Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary is beautiful and shocking, one of the European literary greats. While it is not the most faithful adaptation around, Vincente Minnelli's Madame Bovary does stand on its own two feet and is a beautiful film in its own right. It does suffer from what made the book so complex and shocking not being fully allowed to come out due to the limitations of the Production Code at the time of it being made and released(maybe the film's length too). So you do miss the stuffiness and hypocrisy of French provincial life, which I always took as a crucial part to Emma's character, while the script could have done with more of a dark edge and Minnelli's direction is often dazzling and technically skilled(the ballroom sequence has to be a highlight in his directorial career) but also a little too relaxed in places, so the drama has occasional stodginess. But it is unfair to dismiss Madame Bovary due to these because its positives are a great many. That it is one of the most visually beautiful films of the 40s is one, the costumes are evocative and astonishingly elegant, Emma's dresses are a wow factor while the sets are the very meaning of grand with a Baroque/Roccocco influence. The photography dazzles just as much as Minnelli's technical style in the ballroom sequence(an intricate and in all senses wonderful scene, perhaps one of the greats in cinematic history). Miklos Rosza's music score is another huge part of the appeal, one of his best, the stylistic elegance, haunting undercurrent and energy are all here in the score, the Madame Bovary Waltz being the most memorable. The script may lack edge, but it does maintain the book's ironic humour and is very poignant too without descending into melodrama, and the story regardless of the watering down still compels and moves. Some may find Flaubert's narration and trial at the beginning unnecessary, to me it was actually very interesting- James Mason's thoughtfully earnest performance as Flaubert helps- and that the book itself caused a scandal at the time and is still controversial now made it further easier to understand why the book's depth doesn't quite come through here. The aforementioned ballroom sequence is the highlight of the film, but the deserted windswept streets in the middle of the night scene where Emma is waiting for Rudolphe is beautifully shot and emotionally telling. The performances are fine, Jennifer Jones is very moving(not to mention stunning to look at), she does capture the selfishness and insufferable woman traits that Emma has yet makes it clear Emma is also a victim of her own passions, it is very easy to not stand Emma and make her one-dimensional but with Jones there is a degree of compassion. Van Heflin is sympathetic and mild-mannered without being too much of a bore and oafish without being too much of a dork and clown, like with Jones both of those are easy traps to fall into. Louis Jourdan is perfectly cast, suave and charismatic while conflicted and menacing. Alf Kjellin is a gentle Leon, a good contrast to Jourdan's Rudolphe, while Gladys Cooper as ever is a scene stealer as is Frank Allenby as the malefic L'Hereux. Harry Morgan and Gene Lockhart are dependably solid. Overall, a beautiful film but those wanting a faithful adaptation of Madame Bovary(a big ask really as it is perhaps one of the most difficult books to adapt) may want to look elsewhere. But even then, there will be people who think that to some extent but still take this film for what it is. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I thought this movie was great and should be seen by all women and girls. I think it had a great message of how greed and envy can consume a person. I think that a lot of women suffer from this kind of wander lust. Jennifer Jones' Madame Bovary reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. Both women wanting what they can't have and not appreciating the men who truly love them or their beautiful little girls. This movie also teaches the evils of over extending oneself on credit! Van Heflins portrayal of Dr. Bovary is a little weak but then so was the character, so maybe he didn't do so bad. I loved the costumes in Madame Bovary. Call me an old fashioned girl but I just loved this movie and the old fashioned message.

This movie is great! Jennifer looks beautiful, and her acting skills are wonderful! I also love the performances by Louis Jourdon and Van Heflin. But what I think adds the perfect touch is the opening court scene with James Mason as the author. Flaubert was really put on trial for his "immoral" book, and I think it's great how they have him narrating this story, as he was trying to prove his innocence. "Madame Bovary" is a must see! Rating: 10/10

Wonderful performances by Jones and Heflin and splendid directorial realization overcome the spurious moralizing fore and aft tags in which Metro saw fit to sandwich the story. There were complaints for years about the scripting of the novel, but tell me, "What's missing?" I've read the novel at least a dozen times and seen the film many more times than that and all that is missing is Flaubert's 'Proustian' tendency to meander all around his themes with just one more detail. And, after the recent tedious Elizabeth Hubert version this film is exemplary in its efficiency and that makes me wonder if any of the original reviewers ever did read the book. Of course, the ball sequence is without peer, an unyielding display of erotic romanticism and unabashed narcissism. Bravo Vincent, Brava Jennifer!