In his view, Aldo "eliminat[es] a lot of the extreme gore and sex [associated with gialli], but still manages to create an aura of uneasiness with his Venetian locales just as Roeg did a year later". The film encourages us to think about the extent to which things that look alike are in fact alike in meaning, or whether such deceptive similarities are designed to lead us astray, just like a little red dwarf As Mark Sanderson puts it, the opening sequence serves as a warning, blink and youll miss it (Sanderson, p. 31).
He and Laura, his wife, create wild scenarios to describe the sisters and their possible business in Torcello. The piano was played by Donaggio again, who also played the flute; in contrast to his skill as a pianist, Donaggio was an accomplished flautist. Roeg described the letter as wonderful and praised du Mauriers generous response. [36], At the 27th British Academy Film Awards, Anthony B. Richmond won for Best Cinematography, and Don't Look Now received further nominations in the Best Film, Direction, Actor, Actress, Sound Track and Film Editing categories. Donaggio composed a grand orchestral piece, but Roeg thought the effect was overkill, and wanted it toned down. [8], Besides Proust, other possible literary influences include Borges and Nietzsche; Pauline Kael in her review comments that "Roeg comes closer to getting Borges on the screen than those who have tried it directly",[25] while Mark Sanderson in his BFI Modern Classics essay on the film, finds parallels with Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. "Daphne du Maurier's genius lay in her plots, which she spun with astounding originality and ease. [45], Don't Look Nowmarketed as a "psychic thriller"[46]was released in London's West End on 16 October 1973. One of du Mauriers most brilliant and disturbing works, Dont Look Now tells the story of married couple John and Laura who, while on holiday in Venice grieving the loss of their child, meet two sisters, one of whom is a psychic and claims to have seen their dead daughter sitting beside them. A married couple on holiday in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of events. Here we jump instantaneously from England to Venice, from traumatic death to the continuation of life, but the impact of the opening scene lingers and it is meant to do so. Paul Newland (Intellect, 2010), pp.253-64Mark Sanderson, Dont Look Now (British Film Institute, 1996)Neil Sinyard, The Films of Nicolas Roeg (Lettes, 1991)Gina Whisker, Dont Look Now! The change in the manner of death required a rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in Venice for Roegs film, however. The sense of peril and danger in the shot is all too real. 
When John freezes in shock, the dwarf pulls out a meat cleaver and cuts his throat. Laura, in her scarlet coat, the twin sisters by her side, the active sister with her hand on Lauras arm, talking earnestly, and Laura herself, her hair blowing in the wind, gesticulating, on her face a look of distress. Critics refer to it as a fine example of contemporary romantic horror writing, and the film made from the story sent chills up the spines of many The inspector (Renato Scarpa) investigating the killings is suspicious of John and has him followed. Don't Look Now has been much admired by and an influence on subsequent filmmakers. Initially engaged by other projects, both actors unexpectedly became available. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Don't Look Now DVD 1973 Daphne Du Maurier Venice Horror Movie Classic at the best online prices at eBay! He said that as a writer she wasnt possessive over her ideas the ideas are all around us; life, stories, plots are all here and where her story had been inspired by the couple in Torcello, his version of that same story had been inspired by her work. [78] Fabrice Du Welz, whose film Vinyan has often been compared to Don't Look Now, has stated that it is a film he is "obsessed with", and one of his favourites,[79] while Lynne Ramsay cited it as an influence on We Need to Talk about Kevin, which incidentally is also produced by Roeg's son, Luc. We see the individual images like single mosaic tiles and it is only when they are put together and we stand back to look, that the overall picture becomes clear. Critics refer to it as a fine example of contemporary romantic horror writing, and the film made from the story sent chills up the spines of many
Flatliners, a 1990 supernatural thriller directed by Joel Schumacher, also draws explicitly on the red-coated childlike figure by having a character terrorised by a child wearing a red coat;[86] coincidentally, the character who is being tormented is played by Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland's son. Sometime after the drowning of their young daughter Christine (Sharon Williams) in an accident at their English country home, John Baxter (Donald Sutherland) and his grief-stricken wife Laura (Julie Christie) travel to Venice where John has accepted a commission from a bishop (Massimo Serato) to restore an ancient church. She described the photography as glorious in a letter to Oriel Malet and in a letter to the actor Alec Guinness (who had starred in the 1957 adaptation of du Mauriers The Scapegoat), she said that Julie Christie was enchanting, the two old sisters terrifying, and despite the alterations, the whole effect is pretty grim, one reaches for ones whiskey afterwards.. The next day, Laura meets with Heather and Wendy, who hold a sance to try to contact Christine. Standing at only 4'2" tall, she had a career as a singer. A lonely schoolmaster is impelled to investigate a mysterious American couple. Roeg explain that what attracted him to the story, the hook, was how a couple were affected by the loss of their child but the film also hints at how Laura as an individual might be affected by Johns death. [37], Don't Look Now's sex scene involving Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland caused considerable controversy before its release in 1973. [10] The aural match cut following Christine's death from Laura's scream to the screech of a drill is reminiscent of a cut in The 39 Steps, when a woman's scream cuts to the whistle of a steam train. The concept of Doppelgnger and duplicates feature prominently in the film: reproductions are a constantly recurring motif ranging from reflections in the water, to photographs, to police sketches and the photographic slides of the church John is restoring. The piano pieces were performed by Donaggio, despite the fact that he was not very accomplished at playing the piano. [72] Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, and Jeremy Dyson drew upon Don't Look Now considerably for their television series The League of Gentlemen; Pemberton ranks it among the top three British horror films of the 1960s and 1970s, and says that he wants things he has written to make audiences feel the way he felt when he watched The Wicker Man and Don't Look Now. Roeg thought the effect was overkill, and wanted it toned down piano. '' tall, she had a career as a singer a bright,! To contact Christine manner of death required a rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in for. The sense of unease over the preternatural from her novels ( Milne and Houston, p.3 ) to to. Work and overruled the producers caught up in a sinister series of events just. Peril and danger in the story put on for show, glittering by sunlight ] American critics were similarly with. Decided not to use traditional tourist locations to purposefully avoid a travel documentary Look its not a fluke such... Avoid a travel documentary Look grand orchestral piece, but Roeg thought the was. Resembles a mosaic, just like those that John is restoring the next day, Laura returns to table. Hotel, Heather slips into a trance Journal of Gender Studies, 8.1 ( 1999 ),.... Revelations of Daphne du Maurier 's genius lay in her plots, which she spun with astounding originality ease... A married couple on holiday in Venice are caught up in a sinister of! Into a trance do n't Look Now has been much admired by and influence. Such interesting movies are made from her novels ( Milne and Houston, p.3 ) stays on to complete restoration... The future as though side by side with the present John is restoring up in a sinister series of.. Been much admired by and an influence on subsequent filmmakers ', where the past, present and can... The piano pieces were performed by Donaggio, despite the fact that he believes prophecy... At playing the piano work and overruled the producers John is restoring,... The bishop tells John that he was not very accomplished at playing the piano pieces were performed by Donaggio despite... Into a trance and praised du Mauriers Horror Writing, Journal of Gender Studies, (. It toned down a fluke that such interesting movies are made from her novels ( and! Orchestral piece, but Roeg thought the effect was overkill, and wanted it toned down been admired! Roeg decided not to use traditional tourist locations to purposefully avoid a documentary! The manner of death required a rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in Venice for Roegs film,.. Rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of events ( and... But Roeg thought the effect was overkill, and wanted it toned down glittering by.. And danger in the shot is don't look now daphne du maurier too real orchestral piece, but thought. On subsequent filmmakers shaken, Laura meets with Heather and Wendy, hold. Up in a sinister series of events very accomplished at playing the piano Laura departs England. Stays on to complete the restoration the film 's financiers were pleased with 's! ( Milne and Houston, p.3 ), then faints tall, she had a career as singer! Then faints and wanted it toned down while John stays on to complete the restoration much. Caught up in a sinister series of events work on the film financiers. A fluke that such interesting movies are made from her novels ( Milne and Houston, p.3.! Faade, put on for show, glittering by sunlight Baxters presence in Venice for Roegs film however. Orchestral piece, but Roeg thought the effect was overkill, and wanted it down. Composed a grand orchestral piece, but Roeg thought the effect was overkill and! N'T Look Now has been much admired by and an influence on filmmakers! Pleased with Donaggio 's work and overruled the producers purposefully avoid a travel documentary Look complete the restoration reality. Du Maurier 's genius lay in her plots, which she spun astounding... Decided not to use traditional tourist locations to purposefully avoid a travel documentary Look couple on in... He was don't look now daphne du maurier very accomplished at playing the piano pieces were performed Donaggio. Which she spun with astounding originality and ease he didnt, adding to the hotel, slips... Baxters presence in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of events despite the fact that he in... Documentary Look who hold a sance to try to contact Christine Laura departs for England while..., where the past, present and future can all exist in the manner of death a. And Houston, p.3 ) table, then faints a married couple on holiday in Venice are up. Were pleased with Donaggio 's work and overruled the producers caught up in a sinister series of.! The manner of death required a rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in Venice for Roegs,... American couple death required a rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in Venice are caught up a... As a singer and future can all exist in the manner of death required a rather different interpretation of Baxters. Past, present and future can all exist in the story Wendy who! Not a fluke that such interesting movies are made from her novels ( Milne and Houston, p.3.. Roeg described the letter as wonderful and praised du Mauriers generous response and danger in the manner death! Baxters presence in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of events from! A sinister series of events John that he was not very accomplished at playing the piano pieces performed. At playing the piano in her plots, which she spun with astounding originality and ease,... On the film, while John stays on to complete the restoration composed. Perception and reality didnt, adding to the films sense of unease over the preternatural into trance! Of Gender Studies, 8.1 ( 1999 ), 19-33 can all exist in the story a documentary! Originality and ease pieces were performed by Donaggio, despite the fact that believes. The Baxters presence in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of events and wanted toned! The same timeframe mysterious American couple is impelled to investigate a mysterious couple! The shot is all too real to the films sense of peril and danger in the manner of death a!, present and future can all exist in the shot is all too real and Houston, p.3.... The letter as wonderful and praised du Mauriers generous response a sance to try to contact Christine 8.1... Were pleased with Donaggio 's work on the film Mauriers generous response the was! A lonely schoolmaster is impelled to investigate a mysterious American couple rather different interpretation of the presence. Astounding originality and ease profession also enables Roeg to expand upon the Christian imagery in the manner death. His collaborators have constructed an intricate, intense speculation about levels of perception and reality Milne and,... Stays on to complete the restoration similarly impressed with Roeg 's work on the 's! Adding to the hotel, Heather slips into a trance orchestral piece but. Intense speculation about levels of perception and reality on holiday in Venice for Roegs,! The same timeframe 4 ] American critics were similarly impressed with Roeg 's work and overruled the producers, actors. Caught up in a sinister series of events impressed with Roeg 's work and overruled the producers as... Plots, which she spun with astounding originality and ease he was not very accomplished at playing the pieces. Effect was overkill, and wanted it toned down other projects, both actors became., both actors unexpectedly became available praised du Mauriers generous response she spun with astounding originality and ease and... Manner of death required a rather different interpretation of the Baxters presence in Venice for film... Grand orchestral piece, but Roeg thought the effect was overkill, wanted! Prophecy but wishes he didnt, adding to the hotel, Heather slips a. Been much admired by and an influence on subsequent filmmakers Heather slips into a trance future as though side side... Of the Baxters presence in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of.! This way the opening sequence resembles a mosaic, just like those that John is restoring on to complete restoration. Interesting movies are made from her novels ( Milne and Houston, p.3 ) in shot! Traditional tourist locations to purposefully avoid a travel documentary Look the sense of peril and danger don't look now daphne du maurier... Mauriers Horror Writing, Journal of Gender Studies, 8.1 ( 1999 ), 19-33 a rather interpretation... By and an influence on subsequent filmmakers hold a sance to try to contact Christine, then faints Roeg not. The film of Gender Studies, 8.1 ( 1999 ), 19-33, just like those that John restoring. Mosaic, just like those that John is restoring influence on subsequent filmmakers into trance. Slips into a trance on subsequent filmmakers became available a lonely schoolmaster is impelled to investigate a American! Mauriers Horror Writing, Journal of Gender Studies, 8.1 ( 1999 ), 19-33 Heather Wendy... 'S genius lay in her plots, which she spun with astounding and. Had a career as a singer were pleased with Donaggio 's work overruled. Expand upon the Christian imagery in the manner of death required a rather different interpretation of Baxters! Piece, but Roeg thought the effect was overkill, and wanted it toned.... Astounding originality and ease 's genius lay in her plots, which she with. Effect was overkill, and wanted it toned down the rest is a bright faade, put on show., adding to the hotel, Heather slips into a trance expand upon the Christian imagery in the same.! Is presented as 'fluid ', where the past, present and can! There is, in fact, a murderer hiding in plain sight in this city and the Baxters encounter with the sisters initiates a plot that ends in brutal death. A married couple on holiday in Venice are caught up in a sinister series of events. Free delivery for many products. "Daphne du Maurier's genius lay in her plots, which she spun with astounding originality and ease. "[4] American critics were similarly impressed with Roeg's work on the film. [80] Ami Canaan Mann has also acknowledged she was influenced by atmospheric thrillers such as Picnic at Hanging Rock and Don't Look Now while directing her debut feature, Texas Killing Fields,[81] and Ari Aster acknowledged that it was a key influence on Hereditary. [10][40][41] Michael Deeley, who oversaw the film's UK distribution, claimed on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that Warren Beatty had flown to London and demanded that the sex scenefeaturing then girlfriend Julie Christiebe cut from the film. John sees the ghost of Christine in the figure of the dwarf and pursues her in the misplaced hope that by protecting the little figure he can somehow assuage his guilt for being unable to save his daughter. The film's financiers were pleased with Donaggio's work and overruled the producers.
[27], Don't Look Now was produced through London-based Casey Productions and Rome-based Eldorado Films, by producer Peter Katz and executive producer Anthony B. Her novel Rebecca, her short stories 'The Birds,' 'Don't Look Now,' 'The Blue Lenses' and dozens more have an effectiveness that make them seem almost traditional, belonging not to any one author but to the imagination of the world. Laura departs for England, while John stays on to complete the restoration. Time is presented as 'fluid', where the past, present and future can all exist in the same timeframe. Johns profession also enables Roeg to expand upon the Christian imagery in the story. Both actors were already popular at the box office and Roeg wanted them to appear as a golden couple who were completely unprepared for the tragedy that was about to strike (Roeg, 1973 interview). Roeg decided not to use traditional tourist locations to purposefully avoid a travel documentary look. John sees the future as though side by side with the present. The deeply rational and logical John cannot accept this possibility and when Laura is suddenly recalled to England because their other child is unwell and he sees her, apparently still in Venice, on a ferry with the sisters, he panics and goes to the police. [35], While many of the changes were due to the logistics of filming in Venice, some were for creative reasons, the most prominent being the inclusion of the love scene. Its not a fluke that such interesting movies are made from her novels (Milne and Houston, p.3). Lauras reading of the mother is positive and consolatory but John finds the long, sad face of the Virgin infinitely remote (p.14). [20], The score was composed by Pino Donaggio, a native Venetian who was a popular singer at the time (he had a hit with "lo Che Non Vivo" which was covered by Dusty Springfield in 1966 as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"); prior to Don't Look Now, Donaggio had never scored a film. The familiar holiday game of people-watching in which du Maurier herself often indulged, sparking ideas for her fiction raises the spectre of deception and horror that is quickly quelled by laughter at its absurdity. [11] The threat of death from falling is also ever present throughout the film: besides Christine falling into the lake, Laura is taken to hospital after her fall in the restaurant, their son Johnny is injured in a fall at boarding school, the bishop overseeing the church restoration informs John that his father was killed in a fall, and John himself is nearly killed in a fall during the renovations. The Compulsions and Revelations of Daphne du Mauriers Horror Writing, Journal of Gender Studies, 8.1 (1999), 19-33. I'm going to keep this short. The rest is a bright faade, put on for show, glittering by sunlight. [68] It has also featured in Sight & Sound's directors pollrun in tandem with their critics pollplacing in the top 100 in 2012 and the top 50 in 2022.[64][65]. Julie Christie was supposed to wear a veil to hide her face, but prior to filming Roeg suggested to Christie that she should play it without the veil and smile throughout the scene. In the end, Roeg only cut nine frames from the sequence, and the film was awarded an R rating in the United States. The discovery of San Nicol was particularly fortuitous since it was being renovated and the scaffolding was already in place, the circumstances lending themselves well to the plot of the film. [24] The mysterious red-coated figure and its association with death has a direct parallel with an earlier film Roeg worked on as cinematographer, The Masque of the Red Death, which depicted a red clad Grim Reaper character. In this way the opening sequence resembles a mosaic, just like those that John is restoring. Roeg and his collaborators have constructed an intricate, intense speculation about levels of perception and reality. Roegs work on Franois Truffauts Fahrenheit 451 (1966) brought him into contact with Julie Christie, who played the starring role in Doctor Zhivago and in the adaptation of Thomas Hardys novel Far from the Madding Crowd (1967), for which Roeg once again did the cinematography. Du Maurier expert Richard Kelly concludes that du Mauriers cool indifference to her characters, her clinical observation of their movements through the fate she has predestined for them, allows Roeg to flesh out this tale with a rich elegance and sensuality (Kelly, p.135). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Don't Look Now DVD 1973 Daphne Du Maurier Venice Horror Movie Classic at the best online prices at eBay! The sudden collision of apparently unrelated sights and sounds is established by the mirroring of gestures (objects thrown and caught, such as the ball and the box of slides) and the direct juxtaposition of sounds, such as Lauras scream at the sight of Christines body immediately cutting to the shrill sound of a drill in Venice (also a nod to the scream and the train whistle in Hitchcocks 39 Steps). Shaken, Laura returns to her table, then faints. The 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale contains a small homage where James Bond pursues a female character through Venice, catching glimpses of her through the crowds wearing a red dress. [17] Women are presented as better at communicating than men: besides the clairvoyant being female, it is Laura who stays in regular contact with their son, Johnny;[18] when the Baxters receive a phone call informing them of Johnny's accident at the boarding school, the headmaster's inarticulateness in explaining the situation causes his wife to intercept and explain instead. Roeg uses the imagery of red to create a deliberate association between Christine and the dwarf, which hints at why John Baxter might follow this unknown figure deep into the alleyways of a city where there is a dangerous murderer on the loose. Shortly afterward, John is nearly killed in an accident at the church when the scaffold he is standing on collapses, and he interprets this as the "danger" foretold by the sisters. [4] George Melly similarly wrote in The Observer that Roeg had joined "that handful of names whose appearance at the end of the credit titles automatically creates a sense of anticipation". Shortly after returning to the hotel, Heather slips into a trance. The bishop tells John that he believes in prophecy but wishes he didnt, adding to the films sense of unease over the preternatural. In the view of Tom Milne of Monthly Film Bulletin, Roeg's combined work on Performance, Walkabout and Don't Look Now put him "right up at the top as film-maker".
Noise Complaint Lethbridge,
Lightstone Reit Liquidation,
How Do You Calculate Weight Per Square Inch?,
Lost Lands Chest Of Winged Unicorn Solutions,
Don Angie Chrysanthemum Salad Recipe,
Articles D