Book Review - Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
Well, almost a book review: inspired by Banana Oil´ s insightful and inspiring entry on Joseph Conrad´ s classic I had ordered the Oxford classic edition some weeks ago and have been carrying it around for some time with the intention of reading it (which I never have before - and still intend to do!).
On zapping around on TV on this idle Sunday morning, though, I accidentally came upon the 1964 movie starring Peter O’Toole, Curd Jürgens and - gorgeously - ravishing 22-years-old Daliah Lavi .
I cannot yet (watch out for a later entry as soon as I really have read the book) comment on the quality of the movie´ s adaptation of the novel, but the metaphysicial Conradian themes that I know from Heart of Darkness seem to be well captured in the movie and the acting is very fine.
Jim´ s struggle to redeem himself in a world that is imperfect, old and preordained, fighting a struggle he cannot win and yet - somehow - does is exciting and gripping and touching and moving (and makes you forget the film´s age).
Even more than embodying “in Jim the values and the turmoil of a fading empire” as the book´s cover tells this is a story covering and conveying quintessential topics of man and men - heroism, search for a redemption that may as well never be, cowardice and grit and all the things in between, good and evil, “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”, life and death, destiny …
The film is worth a recommendation, no doubt, and I am looking forward to the actual novel now.
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Drat, now I’ve got to watch it.
Dahlia Lavi is also in Ten Little Indians, along with some other swinging ’sixties eye candy.
And looking at the cast list, whoever decided to put James Mason in the Gentleman Brown role was a genius. I would’ve wanted him to play Marlow, and I would’ve been wrong.
Yes, Mason is brilliant. I did not recognize him at first - he reminded me very much of Peter Lorre, who might have been good for that role, as well (although he might already have bene too old - or dead? - in 1964).