Talking to the carer this morning the subject of “Doctor Zhivago” came up and we both expressed our love of the film and I suggested she watch another of David Lean’s films “Ryan’s Daughter”. I was soon searching the internet for a copy of the film to watch and that didn’t take long. However, it is a major investment in your time with the film 3h 26min long.
David Lean's production of "Ryan's Daughter “is an outstanding piece of cinematic artistry. I don't understand why "Ryan's Daughter" was so poorly received by critics of the time although John Mills won Best Actor in a Supporting Role and the film won Best Cinematography. That was the year (1971) George C. Scott declined the Best Actor award for Patton.
It's a romantic drama set in a small village on the Irish coastline. The mood of the villagers is as changeable as the waves that crash upon the shore. David Lean uses the sea for dramatic effect as he alternates between the village people and the sea itself. John Mills as Michael the inquisitive village idiot is superb as we watch him play with a box of explosives.
Sarah Miles plays Rosy torn between the love for her Irish schoolteacher husband (Robert Mitchum) and an unbridled passion for a newly arrived British officer (Christopher Jones). Village gossip virtually destroys Rosy's life.
The war hero and a Victoria Cross winning share a passionate kiss while alone and soon they were meeting at every opportunity her husband becomes suspicious of Rosy, but keeps his thoughts to himself.
Trevor Howard as the local much-respected priest gives a compelling performance as one who tries to keep the peace in a troubled village. The shell-shocked officer with dreadful memories of his time in the trenches in France has a distinct presence on screen. His part requires little dialogue, the emotions being portrayed through eye and body language.
Some of the loveliest scenes I thought were those of the high cliffs and broad beaches where Rosy often walked alone with the incoming tide. Unfortunately, footprints in the sand can reveal the most intimate secrets! The wild storm in which the locals attempt to salvage boxes of ammunition from a ship in raging seas is one of the most realistic and exciting sequences, I have seen.
The scene of Rose’s husband taking the schoolchildren to the beach, he follows footprints in the sand that lead to a cave in the cliff side were a passionate liaison between his wife, and the officer had taken place Michael watching.
After the storm villagers storm into the schoolhouse and seize Rosy, convinced that she informed the British of the arms shipment. Ryan her father watches in shame and horror as his daughter takes the blame for his actions. The mob shears off her hair and strips off her clothes as her husband fights to save her from the crowd. Showing an act of kindest to Michael, he leads the officer to a cache of arms, including dynamite, that was not recovered after the storm. After Michael runs off, he commits suicide by detonating the explosives.
The film ends the next day, at the schoolhouse, Rosy and Charles are preparing to leave for Dublin, but they have to enduring the taunts of the villagers as they go.
We are reminded constantly in the film that the sea is the dominant player. Photography, sound effects, and music blend into a perfect whole. In one, word...sublime!
My Rating
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