The Loves of Isadora

source: The Loves of Isadora

Real Review Posting Scoring Criteria: Acting - 1/1 Casting - 1/1 Directing - 1/1 Story - 1/1 Writing/Screenplay - 1/1 Total Base Score = 5 Modifiers: Originality: Cinematography: 1 Standout Performances: 1 (Redgrave) Personal Favorite: 0.5 Total Real Review Rating: 7.5 (rounded up for IMDB)

Vanessa Redgrave has a field day with this one. Captured at her peak, she prances and pontificates like a real diva, in a wild assortment of wigs and barely-there outfits. Her unconvincing American accent is the only fault in an otherwise joyous performance. Locations and costumes are outstanding. The new Kino Lorber Blu Ray DVD does justice to the lavish production. Though a bit overlong, the film is never dull and it helps to have a taste for this sort of thing. It's surprising this wasn't a hit in 1968, as it dovetails with that decade's nonconformist and free-spirited nature. Ken Russell's 1966 television version is still much better, but "Isadora" holds up well after more than half a century. Note: The optional audio running commentary on the Kino Lorber Blu Ray DVD is horrendous.

Karel Reisz's film of Melvin Bragg's telling screenplay explores and portrays the incredible life of Angela Isadora Duncan. Vanessa Redgrave stars as the daughter of a bank fraudster from San Francisco, whose first step to sexual and artistic emancipation was to ceremonially burn her parents' marriage certificate. We see in the film a woman who after a faltering start as an ambitious caterpillar is tranformed into glorious and irridescent butterfly who promotes and innovates a wholly new approach to dance and art in general. Fortuitous meetings with Gordon Craig (James Fox) - an artistic soul mate; and Paris Singer (Jason Robards) a financial supporter and father of her second child. A life less ordinary. You couldn't make it up !

Lag Ja Gale Ki Phir ye Hasin Raat Ho Na Ho shayad Phir Is Janam Mein mulakat Ho Na Ho lag Jaa Gale ke phir ye hansi raat ho na ho shayad phir is janam Mein mulakat ho na ho... lag ja gale a a aahh hhh hhh hum Ko Mili Hai Aaj ye Ghadiya Naseeb Se je Bhar Ke Dekh Leejiye hamako Kareeb Se phir Apke Naseeb Mein ye Baat Ho Na Ho shayad phir Is Janaam Mein mulakaat Ho Na Ho lag Ja Gale pas Aiye Ki Ham Nahin ayenge Baar Baar bahen Gale Mein Daal Ke ham Ro Le Zaar-Zaar ankhoon Se Phir Ye pyaar Ki Barsaat Ho Na Ho shayad Phir Is Janam Mein mulakat Ho Na Ho Lyrics continue below.

Vanessa Redgrave who should be awarded Dame Commander of the British Empire if it was up to me but she declined damehood in 1999 and even regrets accepting the C.B.E. in 1967. She gives one of her best and memorable performances as the legendary dancer, Isadora Duncan. It is a long and memorable movie. THe best lover in my opinion is the foreign piano lover who is described first by Isadora as "hideous and revolting." When they finally share a carriage ride, she begins to recognize his inner beauty of another artist. Isadora's life is also tragic with the loss of her two children in a dreadful car accident. This film is really Vanessa Redgrave's vehicle. She drives smoothly from beginning to end. American actress, Cynthia Harris, does a good job in a featured role in this film. So does Jason Robards and others who bring the life to this wonderful creature.

One of the better biopics thanks in large part to a stunning performance from Vanessa Redgrave in the title role of "Isadora" and meticulous direction from Karel Reisz who obviously knew what he was doing and displayed an obvious affection for his subject. It's intelligent and it looks great and there's a fine supporting cast so with all this going for it why does it feel like a very high-class soap opera? Perhaps because all biopics can finally do nothing but reduce their subject's lives to a series of melodramatic incidents or 'highlights'. Perhaps because most famous people's lives are dull most of the time and it's only the melodramatic incidents that people are interested in. This one spins out a series of dances, (very well recreated by Redgrave), and romantic encounters with sufficient aplomb to give it an edge over most biopics. It isn't quite in the same class as Ken Russell's shorter, rawer television version but it comes close.

Showy but empty biography of internationally-acclaimed modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan (1877-1927), played by Oscar-nominated Vanessa Redgrave. This scrapbook of memories directed by Karel Reisz attempts to pass off Isadora as an Auntie Mame in her later years (by way of Paris and San Francisco), given to gaily eccentric behavior which would lead to her demise. The film was advertised in the US as "The Loves of Isadora", shrewdly shifting the emphasis from Isadora herself to the men in her life (anything to bring audiences in); however, one might be tempted to say the movie follows suit, as Isadora's lovers--Paris Singer (Jason Robards), Gordon Craig (James Fox) and Sergey Esenin (Ivan Tchenko)--are portrayed as the fuel to her fire. This angle might have worked in a romantic-drama context were it not for the prologue which features a 12-year-old Isadora vowing allegiance to her art over love. Redgrave is neither American nor a dancer--and she can't imitate either (her exaggerated American accent has a monotone twang, as if she were speaking English phonetically). While the actress is certainly lovely--and, in performance, her long arms are eloquent and expressive--one can immediately tell director Reisz is protecting his star with the editing. The film looks beautiful, but it isn't beautifully realized. It's tumultuous and melodramatic and volatile, but there must have been more to Isadora Duncan than her craving for male companionship and her affection for the Soviets. When she's in a man's arms, staring into his eyes, it's fitting that Reisz should intercut shots of Isadora dancing alone on a bare stage, photographed from above. But when that romance is over, the filmmaker takes his diva right along into the arms of another man. A batty Isadora in her late forties complains aloud of being betrayed, while this picture--ostensibly about her--is the ironic response. **1/2 from ****

Why this excellent film is not available on DVD is beyond me. I just recently watched the film on an old VHS tape borrowed from the library. It was well worn and faded, but I was riveted by the amazing performance of Vanessa Redgrave as the famous dancer Isadora Duncan. I would love to see the original 168 minute film released (I viewed a cut version) in all it's intended glory. Ms. Redgrave was nominated in 1968 for her role in this film, but lost to Barbra Streisand and Katherine Hepburn. It was obviously a very strong category that year for best actress. However, this performance by Ms. Redgrave should be available to see today on Blu Ray. In my opinion, it is not to be missed. Film fans take note! If you have not seen this film, search it out. Check your local library for the VHS tape if you still have a VCR for it is well worth viewing the wonderful performance by the legendary Vanessa Redgrave.

The bigger than life Isadora Duncan, a dancing legend, is the focus of this film. "Isadora", which came out in 1968, came and went without much fanfare. The opportunity to watch it again came when it was shown on a cable network recently. The main attraction is Vanessa Redgrave's take in the subject matter. The biopic, directed by Karel Reisz, follows aspects of Ms. Duncan's life. One thing comes across: she was a woman ahead of her time! Her disregard for classical dance made her famous, although as shown in the film, one wonders what liberties the filmmakers took in Ms. Redgrave's renditions of works created by the famous artist. Another thing that is clearly evident in the movie is the unhappy life of Isadora. She had no luck with anyone of her lovers. The most famous one was Paris Singer, the son of an American millionaire which ended tragically as their son and her daughter with another man drowned, something that weighed heavily on this tormented woman. Vanessa Redgrave at the height of her beauty was magnificent in her interpretation of the troubled Isadora. Jason Robards is seen as Paris Singer, the American heir that fell in love with the dancer, but didn't seem to have much in common with her.