The Incredible Sarah ** (1976, Glenda Jackson, Daniel Massey, Yvonne Mitchell) – Classic Movie Review 5561

Director Richard Fleischer’s well-produced but dull and unconvincing 1976 British drama is a disappointing and inaccurate biopic of the youth of the divine French actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) who appeared in a clutch of silent movies even though she had had her leg amputated.

In an unhappy venture, an over-the-top Glenda Jackson is none too credible as Sarah and Fleischer doesn’t seem at home with the material as director.

Rather wanly and drably written by Ruth Wolff (who also wrote The Abdication), it is one of a series of movies made by Reader’s Digest in the Seventies in an attempt to diversify from their popular magazine base.

Among the decent Seventies mainly British cast, Daniel Massey co-stars as Victorien Sardou and Yvonne Mitchell as Mam’selle, with performances to note from a rich ensemble of actors who include Douglas Wilmer, David Langton, Simon William, John Castle, Edward Judd, Rosemarie Dunham, Peter Sallis, Bridget Armstrong, Margaret Courtenay, Maxwell Shaw, Patrick Newell, Gawn Grainger, Peter Davidson and Marianne Stone.

RIP Peter Sallis, who died on 2 June 2017, aged 96.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5561

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