We all know the overall story of Madame Bovary whether we have read the book or not. But Vincente Minnelli brings this story brilliantly to the screen in 1949 with a great performance by Jennifer Jones as the title character and a subtle but great performance as well by Van Heflin as her patsy husband. Emma is a poor young woman who dresses as best she can when Dr. Charles Bovary first comes to tend to her ill father. Charles is fascinated with the young beauty, and Emma is willing to do anything to get out of poverty. So she bewitches the young doctor and finds herself in a boring marriage to a country doctor. So to amuse herself, Emma spends money extravagantly--fixes up their home, dresses to the hilt. But even that does not make her happy. She finds comfort in the rich young interior decorator Leon Dupuis (Christopher Kent) until his mother (Gladys Cooper) becomes aware of what is going on and sends him to Paris to pursue a law degree. And then at a party, Emma is introduced to Rodolphe Boulanger (Louis Jordan), who is not only rich but handsome too. A famous ball scene finds Emma dancing with Rodolphe where the director uses every camera setting known to Hollywood at that time to show Emma's delight, pleasure, and beauty to us. And then it is interrupted by her drunken husband who wants to dance with her. As the movie progresses, Emma gets the Bovaries deeper into debt and herself deeper in immorality. The question is how will she pay the loan holder Monsieur L'Heureux (Frank Allenby) before he turns the debt over to Charles or to the auction houses. In a subplot, Gustave Flaubert (James Mason) is on trial in France for even concocting such a story. It is on the verge of being banned by the French court and Flaubert sentenced to prison. But he defends his story by telling it. This movie is highly rated, the ball scene is fabulous, and the costumes and music are wonderful. Nominated for one Academy Award for Art Direction, it did not win. But still this movie will not let you down and showcases Jennifer Jones' talent in a way I have not seen before.Read full review
The DVD was of great quality. Madame Bovary was a wonderful story as told through the eyes of the author of the book, Gustave Flaubert,(James Mason). He tells a packed court room about the fictional heroine of his book. So we have a tight court room drama as well as an impossible love story about a woman who is forever looking to raise herself up in society. A society that tells her she is a mere woman, and not of any worth except as to what success her husband has in life. A very young, handsome Louis Jourdan plays the cad who in the end betrays Madame Bovary, played with angelic passion by the elegant Jennifer Jones. And a word must be mentioned about actor James Mason who is always a treat to watch. He was a master of his craft. All around excellent acting of a wonderful story. If you purchase this one; Enjoy.Read full review
A 1949 MGM production for Jennifer Jones, Madame Bovary drew respectable reviews when it was released in 1949 and was the kind of production would could have expected the studio to lavish on her. The production lacks pace and direction, muddling through various scenes before leading to its final conclusion. Jones fails to deliver the kind of high-stakes performances she would later display in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit or as an over-the-top high society matron in Beat the Devil. Still, Madame Bovary is worth watching.
I love classic Hollywood movies!!! N this one is one of my favs!!! It took no time 2 get here after I ordered it n quality is excellent!!!
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I Want to buy this product cause I've always loved movies of Jennifer Jones and there isn't this movie in dvd here in Brazil.I've liked that this dvd has portuguese subtitles, but I confess that I didn't liked that this dvd comes in a snap case.That's a shame of Warner...
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