Forever Amber *** (1947, Linda Darnell, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Richard Haydn, Jessica Tandy) – Classic Movie Review 4685

Director Otto Preminger turns Kathleen Winsor’s saucy and salty 1944 historical romantic novel, set in 1660s England, becomes a famous and costly but low-voltage 1947 bodice-ripper of a movie, thanks to poor casting and censorship restrictions. The Motion Picture Production Code Hays Office had already condemned the novel.

Linda Darnell looks lovely but gives a tepid performance as country wench Amber St Clair, who has a wild romance with often-absent soldier Bruce Carlton (Cornel Wilde), has his child, attracts the eye of Lord Harry Almsbury (Richard Greene), goes to court and becomes a favourite of King Charles ll (George Sanders), but pines to regain her true love for Wilde.

Production executive Darryl F Zanuck at the 20th Century Fox studio goes for the big, expensive, quality production – splendid sets and action all filmed in glorious Technicolor. But what is really needed is something that looks as base, brash and brassy as the heroine, and perhaps also three different stars. Nevertheless, the plush production is one of the film’s main assets, along with the commanding Sanders and David Raksin’s fine, Oscar-nominated score. That was its sole Oscar nomination.

The screenplay is by Philip Dunne, Ring Lardner Jnr and Jerome Cady, the photography is by Leon Shamroy, it is produced by William Perlberg, and the art direction is by Lyle R Wheeler.

Darnell took over when newcomer Peggy Cummins, proved too inexperienced to play Amber. Preminger replaced original director John M Stahl after 39 days of filming and $300,000 spent. The original $4.5 million budget rocketed to $6 million, making it unprofitable on a North American box office take of $5 million, despite its huge popularity.

In the UK on 6 April 2002, the day that ITV recorded its lowest ever audience, Channel 4 attracted a surprisingly large number of 750,000 viewers with this movie.

Also in the cast are Glenn Langan, Richard Haydn, Jessica Tandy, Anne Revere, Leo G Carroll, John Russell, Robert Coote, Jane Ball, Natalie Draper, Margaret Wycherly, Alma Kruger, Edmund Breon, Alan Napier, Mary Anderson, Bob Adler, Ellen Corby, Robert Greig, Richard Bailey, Vernon Downing, Mari Aldon, Jimmy Ames, Harry Cording, James Craven, Ian Keith, Robin Hughes, Tempe Pigott, Houseley Stevenson, Norma Varden, Frederick Worlock, Frederick Ledebur and Tom Stevenson.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 4685

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