Review of Daisy Miller (1974) by Stuart K — 22 Aug 2009

Peter Bogdanovich had alot of success in the early 1970's, he'd just come off The Last Picture Show (1971) and Paper Moon (1973), now he was going to do a big period drama, Daisy Miller was based on Henry James' 1878 novella.

Despite the good intentions, it flopped, critics then called it a dud, but time has been kinder to this film, and it does look lovely, but the title character was still miscast. Set in Switzerland, it follows young American Annie P.

'Daisy' Miller (Cybill Shepherd) who is very unconventional, she has an eccentric mother Erza (Cloris Leachman) and a troublemaker younger brother Randolph (James McMurtry). She meets fellow American Frederick Winterbourne (Barry Brown), who is surprised by her attitude towards life.

But, other Americans in the area do not think highly of her, and even socialite Mrs. Walker (Eileen Brennan) is appalled by her behaviour, but is Daisy really so naive?? Shepherd was cast on an act of pure nepotism by Bogdanovich, as they were dating one another at the time.

Not a good idea, but it's well shot and is a gentle comedy of manners. An outsider in a classy world. The story could do with a remake, and it marked Bogdanovich's downfall.