Review of The Beguiled (1971) by Steve B — 30 Apr 2014

Directed by Don Siegel, (Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Coogan's Bluff (1968) and Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)), and adapted from Thomas P. Cullinan's 1966 novel A Painted Devil. This is a claustrophobic slice of Southern Gothic, with Siegel working again with Clint Eastwood, having both found success together.

It's a dark chamber piece, but it has some good acting and an offbeat kilter. Set towards the end of the American Civil War, wounded Yankee soldier John McBurney (Eastwood) is found by 12 year old Amy (Pamelyn Ferdin), and she takes McBurney back to the boarding school she studies at, which is ran by Martha Farnsworth (Geraldine Page).

With Confederate soldiers on the prowl looking for McBurney, Farnsworth and the rest of the girls have to keep his presence a secret. As McBurney recovers, he begins a romance with Farnsworth, then a couple of the other girls, and an unpleasant atmosphere of jealously and betrayal descend over the house, which isn't helped by the fact that McBurney has become an alcoholic.

It's a good character piece, and it gives Eastwood to show a more sensitive side too, as well as exploring a tortured side. Siegel gets the best out of his young cast, even filming on location in an actual house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Next for Siegel and Eastwood, a little cop film called Dirty Harry (1971).