Conference bookie::movies

577.0. "Widows' Peak" by DSSDEV::RUST () Mon Jun 27 1994 15:23

    "Widows' Peak" [currently playing at the Wilton Town Hall theater, for
    the benefit of southern-NH-area noters] is a very amusing little
    picture about a remote Irish village and the exceedingly snobbish
    coterie of wealthy widows who live there. Captained by Joan Plowright
    as a snob-de-la-snobs dowager [her son is the only male permitted to
    dwell on "the hill," and her word is law], the widows keep themselves
    apart from "the town" and mind each other's business with a vengeance.
    
    Mia Farrow does an excellent job as Miss O'Hare, the only non-widow
    in the community, who dwells there by special dispensation from the
    dowager. She grows prize roses, is courted by the local dentist, and
    is picked on relentlessly by the widows ("You've had your turn, dear,
    now be quiet," when she tries to speak out at a gathering); still, she
    seems to live comfortably enough - until a new widow comes to town.
    
    The newcomer, played archly by Natasha Richardson, sets the town on its
    ear immediately. She doesn't wear weeds, for one; for another, she's
    considered British (because her husband was a British soldier), though
    she herself seems to be American. And almost at once she begins
    courting the dowager's son and, simultaneously, starts a feud with Miss
    O'Hare, setting off the gossip alarms all over town.
    
    I enjoyed the movie thoroughly, even though I managed to guess some of
    the plot twists (and there are several!) - and despite a generous
    number of stereotyped "typical small provincial village" characters
    (which the excellent cast managed to make entertaining, nonetheless).
    
    Overall, the movie's a light comedy, but it has moments of darkness;
    the one thing I might have changed about it would have been to
    emphasize those a little more, and render the light-heartedness more
    ambiguous. But it's very entertaining as it is, and I'd recommend it.
    
    -b

    Re: -1 (-b)
    
    That's an excellent review! I saw Widow's Peak a couple of months ago
    at the USA Film Festival here in Dallas, and thought it was a great
    movie, but I haven't been able to put it into words. You did a great
    job of that!
    
    Great flick! Must see -- ladies, take your moms!
    
    Catherine
    

A clunker.  But a most agreeable clunker.  The basenote captures
the flavor.  This is for anyone who ever went to a Merchant Ivory
film and just wished they'd lighten up.  I do want to add one thing:

While many period films showcase old cars, this is the only film I've
seen to showcase old pleasure boats.  And what boats!

Brian

An enjoyable film, especially the ending. Natasha Richardson was terrific.

re .0

Mrs O'Hare was a widow, her husband was killed by the British.


Randy

    I got an inkling of the motivations a little before I was supposed to,
    I think, but the methods were certainly original.
    
    Certainly worth the rental if you're in the mood for some wicked fun.

    Saw this movie at the weekend and enjoyed it immensely.  I didn't
    realise that Hugh Leonard wrote the screenplay.  I've seen several
    plays by him in Ireland and regard his writing highly.
    
    Enjoyable twists and turns.  We were all going, "I know what's
    happening!"  Only we didn't until fairly close to the end.
    
    Bernard

    I saw this a couple of weekends ago and really liked it.  The
    ending is good ... I never suspected!!
    
    Sue