The Ebony Tower

Boring, puerile tale of a young writer sent to interview a successful wealthy artist (Olivier) at his country estate in France. One of Olivier's more unfortunate films - he is hammy without the fun (not a patch on "Sleuth" or "Marathon Man"). As the "great" artist he gets to pontificate about art in running undergraduate monologues, which include every cliché about artists in film. This is not Olivier's fault, I fear, but Fowles', who likes to write about callow young men who learn the meaning of life from some great older man (e.g. "The Magus"). The scenery is stunning, as is Greta Scacchi - it must have been in her contract at this time that she had to drop her gear in every role (as in "White Mischief", which at least was heaps of fun). Watch for the straight-faced, but unintentionally hilarious recreation of Manet's "Breakfast on the Grass" with 80's pop star Toyah Wilcox. Could have been good if it had even a grain of wit or some real drama. For a film that explores similar territory - but brilliantly - try Alain Resnais' film "Providence". DUD.

This is an early TV-version of one of John Fowles' greatest stories, the first and longest in his collection of the same name from 1974. All highly recommended reading. And perhaps it belongs to a genre better read in retreat, than seen on any screen. Though the effort to make a film of it deserves attention, if not else just because of the archetypal abyss of the story.

The main drawback is that Olivier is terribly miscast. The great ham is no ailing but still dangerously masculine and sharp old Man, as the painter Henry Breasley is supposed to be. Someone like Richard Harris might have been a more congenial choice for the role. And even Roger Rees seems somewhat too anemic here. While Greta Scacchi is pretty perfect. I'd buy it on DVD anytime, if it was available by itself and not just as a bonus in an Olivier collection..