The Sound and the Fury

"The Sound and the Fury" from 1959 is based on the novel by William Faulkner, and from what I understand, it's pretty loosely based.

I can't speak for the book, but the film is certainly derivative, reminiscent in some of its themes of "A Streetcar Named Desire," and even "Gone with the Wind," as it deals with the idea of the old, gentile south versus the new south.

Yul Brynner is Jason Compson, head of the Compson family, and guardian of Quentin (Joanne Woodward), whose mother Caddy (Margaret Leighton) took off years earlier. As a result, Quentin is a troubled young woman, looking for love in all the wrong places and trying to break from her family. The rest of the family is your typical southern dysfunctional - Ben, the slow brother who doesn't talk, and Howard (John Beal), the alcoholic brother. I had a little trouble putting the family together - Ben, Howard, and Caddy are all siblings, and Quentin is Caddy's daughter; I guess Jason is a half-brother or stepbrother, evidently from Russia. Anyway, Jason is the brains of the outfit, determined to drag the family kicking and screaming into the 20th century and providing for them.

Caddy returns to the house with Jason's permission, and Quentin, who has needed a mother and waited her entire life for her mother to return, finds she's not much use. Caddy as played by prominent Broadway actress Leighton is Blanche Dubois, dragging herself home to Belle Reve. She is either a nymphomaniac or just promiscuous; my money's on the former.

The story seems to have been reduced to stereotypes and follows along with several films made at that time, including "The Long Hot Summer" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Except for his accent, Yul Brynner gives a solid performance - mysterious, magnetic, and a dominant presence, and Woodward is excellent as Quentin, a young woman trying to find herself. Ethel Waters gives a wonderful performance as the housekeeper, Dilsy, who has seen all the children grow up and is smarter than all of them.

Just okay.

Leonard Maltin describes this film as a "strange adaptation" of the rather dense and difficult William Faulkner novel of the same name. Perhaps the lesson here is that the book is indeed unfilmable. The movie takes numerous liberties with the novel and generally omits large portions of it. I can't help but feel that Yul Brynner, with his peculiar accent, was miscast as Jason Compson. In the book, Jason is the youngest sibling of Caddy and Benjie; here he is described as an adopted son, and not "blood" kin. We also have a completely made up sibling named Howard, who does not exist in the book. The novel takes place in the late 1920's with many flashbacks, here the present day is the mid 1950's. Despite its shortcomings, including a rather overbearing and jazzy music score which doesn't really fit, The Sound and The Fury does have its merits, starting with the always watchable Joanne Woodward as young Quentin Compson, presumably around 18 years of age and still in high school. The photography was fine and the ambiance, both inside and out, of the deteriorating Compson mansion was spot on. The small town atmosphere of Jefferson, MS was captured nicely. I would recommend this film to Faulkner buffs and Joanne Woodward fans. Just don't expect too much.

Why is it that all stories regarding the South have to have at least one character who is mentally challenged? Oh well, at least Jack Warden was convincing.

Predictably dreary directing by Martin Ritt (Hud; Hombre).

Brynner was definitely out of place as the lead, but Georgia native Woodward was right on target.

British actress Margaret Leigton was terrific. She's another reminder that even in the 50's, some of Hollywood's best were skinny, chain-smoking women from across the pond. Some things never change, I guess.

The print I saw on INHD was in excellent shape. I wonder why this hasn't been released on DVD.

I would also like to find out why over the years this movie has not been available for purchase on DVD or even VHS. I saw it on TV many years ago and really enjoyed it especially with a cast that included Yul Brynner and Joanne Woodward. Anyone out there have any clues? I realize this film did not really reflect the book by William Faulkner but I think it stood up on its own as a simpler version that most people could enjoy. Hopefully at some point it will be available again. Yul Brynner plays his character with some force and pomposity but is very appealing nevertheless. Joanne Woodward is a sweet gamin of a tom boy who acts the part to perfection. It has been along time since I have seen this film but it made enough of an impression that I still surf the internet in the hopes that I will find it available to buy and play at home.

OK...this is one of the WORST adaptations of all time. For those who say "it's BETTER than the original novel"...are you MAD!!! Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" is one the the greatest American novels ever written (just because it can't be read by someone with a 5th grade education doesn't mean it isn't any good). The only thing this film has in common with the novel is the title and the names of the characters. Overall...it it dreadful, and fans of the novel are encouraged to stay away from it.

Oh...and who's brilliant idea was it to cast Yul Brenner as Jason. UGH!