X
- 1971
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
- 1971
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
Summary While imprisoned in a Confederate girls' boarding school, an injured Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.
Directed By: Don Siegel
Written By: Albert Maltz, Irene Kamp, Thomas Cullinan, Claude Traverse
- 1971
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
- 1971
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
The Beguiled
66
7.4
Where to Watch
Summary While imprisoned in a Confederate girls' boarding school, an injured Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.
Directed By: Don Siegel
Written By: Albert Maltz, Irene Kamp, Thomas Cullinan, Claude Traverse
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
66
67% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
33% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
66
67% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
33% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Combining the conventions of both Western and Grand Guignol chiller, and often directed as if it were an art movie, this is one of Siegel and Eastwood's strangest - and most beguiling - collaborations.
One of the least famous of Clint's Western this is an enigma of the genre with ambiguity and psychological depth all over the place.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 User Ratings
7.4
76% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
24% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 User Ratings
7.4
76% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
24% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Clint Eastwood's performance is quite appreciable. The movie is absolutely honest and brutal which the 2017 remake lack.
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I found this film to be quite atmospheric and I was intrigued to find out more about the wounded soldier who is taken in (Corporal McBurney, played by Colin Farrell). The film is almost entirely in very dark settings, so its best to watch it with curtains closed, or you may struggle to see all of whats going on, on screen but I thought the script was good and it somehow made it feel more mysterious and atmospheric overall.
I liked how the teacher, Miss Martha (played by Nicole Kidman) reacted/responded to the new found occupant of the house, the way she used the situation to make her students reflect on what they may have learnt from the situation and so on. I suppose its partly about trust - trust and secrets. Its an intriguing and atmospheric watch - one that I'd recommend to others.
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The story may sometimes come off as a ribald soldiers’ tale that Siegel, born in 1912, had been awaiting a sexual revolution to tell; still, his intense, intelligent breakdown of the film’s wild outbursts reveals subtleties of love, despair, and shame beneath the schematic luridness.
I must say that I found it interesting (even when it approached the ludicrous) because of its place in relation to other Siegel films and because I have nothing but appreciation for the performers.
It's funny when it shouldn't be, sentimental to a fault and has one of the goriest scenes ever shot.
Marking a distinct change of pace for both director Don Siegel and star Clint Eastwood, The Beguiled doesn’t come off, and cues laughter in all the wrong places.
Undeniably creepy. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about 'The Beguiled', though.
It's definitely one of the more bizarre films that I've seen, intentionally so of course. I'm just not convinced if it's a good film though, it does do a grand job at making the viewer feel uncomfortable but beyond that I'm not sold. Take out the oddness and there's not much there, I feel.
With that said, it undoubtedly leaves an imprint and does what it intends to so I guess it levels out to be something worth watching. Clint Eastwood gives an almost eerily convincing performance, while those behind him are all solid - with the standouts, to me, being Geraldine Page and Mae Mercer.
It's certainly 'out there', you gotta give it that. Overall I have mixed feelings, but I am leaning closer to positive than negative.
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Clint Eastwood is charming as hell in this, who'da thunk it? Everyone gets beguiled in the battle of the sexes. This is a fun, sorta campy, overheated soap opera with take it or leave it social undertones and comments on the power battle between the sexes that's constantly raging - even when it isn't.
I thought this film might have whiffs of misogyny, considering the time period and the subject matter but that's not the case here. The women get their due and they have good reason for behaving the way they do. They're bored, restless and feel useless during the war. They want action, just like the men do. And they want to play at war too.
I could have done without the voicovers and the incest subplot though. I have no idea what that was about.
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Despite not being recognized as a classic, I must admit that I wasn't expecting such a lighthearted film. Given that The Beguiled aims to delve into sexual tension, I never felt it managed to do so convincingly enough.
Even at the time, Eastwood clearly lacked the emotional subtlety necessary for a role like the one he takes on here. He's not doing bad but also not doing great either, you know?
And while the all-female cast keeps the film from flagging, it doesn't do much to hold your attention either.
I had always intended to watch it after viewing Sophia Coppola's rendition, but I consistently postponed it for various reasons.
It's been 6 years since then, but it's not like I missed anything important.
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