The Wind Cannot Read *** (1958, Dirk Bogarde, Yôko Tani, John Fraser, Ronald Lewis) – Classic Movie Review 8200

‘2000 Years of Tradition Said “No!” To Their Love – But Nothing Could Stop It From Happening!’ Director Ralph Thomas’s 1958 British wartime romantic drama The Wind Cannot Read stars Dirk Bogarde at his most dashing, handsome and romantic. Richard Mason adapts his own novel. The opening credits prologue conveniently reads ‘BURMA 1942’, so we know where and when we are.

Bogarde plays a 1942 World War Two British wartime pilot, Flight Lieutenant Michael Quinn, who falls in love with and secretly weds his Japanese language instructor Sabby (Tani) who, it later turns out, is afflicted by an incurable brain disease. Quinn (Bogarde) has to go to Burma, but, captured, tries to escape when he hears of Sabby (Tani)’s illness.

For those who fancy the idea of Love is a Many-Splendored Thing meeting Dark Victory, The Rank Organisation’s tear-soaked romancer-weepie is impeccably played, especially by Bogarde, nicely shot in Eastman Color by Ernest Steward, well crafted by director Thomas and very handsomely mounted by producer Betty E Box. However, cynics will find it very hard going.

Also in the cast are John Fraser as Flying Officer Peter Munroe, Ronald Lewis as Squadron Leader Fenwick, Anthony Bushell as The Brigadier, Michael Medwin as Flying Officer Lamb, Henry Okawa [Heihachirô Ôkawa] as Lieutenant Nakamura, Marne Maitland as Bahadur, Richard Leech as Hobson, Anthony [Tony] Wager as Moss, Donald Pleasence as The Doctor, Avice Landone, Joy Michael, Tadeshi Ikeda and Yoichi Matsue.

It was made at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, and on location in India. Ralph Thomas said he thought Rank boss Sir John Davis bravely authorised location filming in India ‘because he trusted David Lean’s judgement that it was a splendid book. It was a real three-handkerchief picture, which I thoroughly enjoyed making, and Dirk was very good in it.’

The irritating title is explained by a JAPANESE POEM: ‘Though on the sign it is written “Don’t pluck these blossoms”, it is useless against the wind, which cannot read.’

The song The Wind Cannot Read is written and composed by Peter Hart and sung by Vera Lynn (born 20 March 1917). Songwriter Peter Hart received the 1958 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for the title song.

John Fraser has plenty to say about his co-star Bogarde, all of it fascinating, not all of it complimentary, in his autobiography Close Up (2004). Fraser writes: ‘Dirk’s life with [English actor] Anthony Forwood had been so respectable, their love for each other so profound and so enduring, it would have been a glorious day for the pursuit of understanding and the promotion of tolerance if he had screwed up the courage to make one dignified allusion to his true nature. Self-love is no substitute for self-respect.’

Fraser also tells of a violent homophobic attack on him by a drunken Ronald Lewis while on location for The Wind Cannot Read in Jaipur (‘You’re a nasty little bum boy, come outside and I’ll thrash the fucking daylights out of you’), when Lewis felled him with one swing of his fist, broke his jaw, knocked out a molar, and his sinus became infected, requiring two operations back in London. ‘When Ronnie Lewis killed himself, I felt not a twinge of sorrow or regret,’ adds Fraser.

David Lean planned to direct with Glenn Ford as star, making the lead character a Canadian. Later, Lean turned to Kenneth More, who turned down the lead as he was unsure if the public would accept him in the part and later called it ‘the greatest mistake I ever made professionally’. Lean then disagreed with producer Alexander Korda and Rank Film Productions bought the rights to the novel.

It was the last film to play at the Roxy Theatre in New York City. As so often, the opening credits read: ‘All characters in this film are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.’

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8200

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