 "The BBC "Vanity Fair", 1998" | 2009-08-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1XMXJSZPEXQXU |
VANITY FAIR
I have just indulged in a rather interesting experiment. While reading Thackeray's novel, I've also been able to watch the six part BBC serialization starring Natasha Little as Becky Sharp. I'll comment on this BBC serial later--but first to the novel itself.
Well, it's a very good novel. Certainly one of the best from the Victorian period which it parodies so beautifully. Becky Sharp is a fine literary creation and the personal embodiment of that "Vanity Fair" which Thackeray, on the one hand, appears to despise so much, while winking at us in happy glee and suggesting "it ain't such a bad place after all" (by gad!)on the other. All the main characters are fully realized and mercilessly exposed in their weaknesses by the unrelenting author.
Becky, as I have said, is the very embodiment of the superficial, and finally worthless, attractions on offer in the pitiless and unrelenting world of "Vanity Fair" which raises people up for a moment, only to mercilessly crush them forever after they have strutted for their little pompous moment on the high society stage. Amelia's Major Dobbin is the only really honourable character in the book--and he is continually trampled over by all the bright young things who want to make their momentary splash in "Vanity Fair". Thackeray describes him as a "spooney" and, indeed, he spends most of the novel as Amelia's platonic lover who dare not ask for more than the little she will give him. Becky Sharp is the real hero, heroine or "anti-heroine" of this novel "without a hero". She manipulates everyone with the most perfect judgement and lives for the joy of Vanity Fair's thousand intrigues. Her husband Rawdon's unexpected escape from a debtor's house and subsequent discovery of his wife making love to the Marquis of Steyne (and his resultant thrashing of that gentleman) is probably the most dramatic moment in the book. However, Becky--if not her husband or the Marquis--is able to move beyond even this catastrophe.
"Vanity Fair" is not without faults for the modern reader. Sometimes Thackeray indulges in page after page of almost nonsensical parody of the contemporary society of his day and this comes across (in the 21st century) as even worse than Swift's most obscure rants in Gulliver's Travels on the Tory/Whig politics of his time. Thankfully, Thackeray doesn't usually detain his reader long in such tedious environs, but soon gets his marvellously readable story moving again.
As I wrote earlier, I have been watching the 1998 BBC adaptation of "Vanity Fair" while actually reading the novel itself--and it's been quite a revealing experience. Of course, one sympathises with the person responsible for making the adaptation. How is it possible to condense the action of more than 800 pages into a 6 hour serial? No doubt it's an impossible task, but I was, mostly, impressed with the beeb's minor success. The adaptation is well done, though it's not without blemish and, most notably, substitutes some of Thackeray's prejudices for several of our own time. For example,(in the novel) Becky's husband, Rawdon, thrashes Lord Steyne with his open hand to make the point that he regards him as a coward and expects to be satisfied in a duel. The beeb substituted a drunken head-butt for this subtle assault--presumably because they thought this was more acceptable to late 20th century British yob culture. Again, the serialization accurately includes a black manservant in the Sedley family. However, he (the black manservant) is given a far larger part in the adaptation than in Thackeray's novel (where, indeed, he is hardly more than a wretched slave). Wouldn't it have been better to simply cut this character out altogether rather than have him purposelessly wandering through (seemingly) every episode full of a somewhat threatening "joie de vivre"? Nevertheless, as I wrote earlier, the adaptation is probably ALMOST as good as it could have been in the circumstances. In particular, Natasha Little is quite enchanting as Rebecca Sharp.
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 "As True to the Book as a Movie is Capable" | 2009-07-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A8IYKR74CM6MI |
I bought this movie to encourage me to read the dauntingly thick novel by William M. Thackeray. Not long into the book written in the typical Victorian over-winded details & drawn-out descriptions & explanations, I was pleasantly surprised at the enthralling nature of the book. The original story in itself became so gripping that I had to stop the movie so that it wouldn't ruin the ending.
This movie was as true to the book as any movie could achieve. Obviously, this 5-hrs movie cannot possibly cover every detail of that illustrious book, however, it touches on all the necessary & crucial points that I believe Thackeray wanted the reader to ponder. For example, the character study of Becky Sharp, the governess who used her talents, wit & cunning to attain social status & to feed the cost of making her appearance in compliance to that status, was such in the novel that kept the reader guessing at the nature of her character. Her pretenses & ulterior motives at the cost of others her superior or inferior can make her out to be quite vile & reprehensible. But then, towards the end, when you think her the worst of vipers, she does something for Amelia (whom she offended early on) that was so sweet & almost redeemable, you want to forgive her. The movie was able to capture these feelings & thoughts that go on while you're reading the text. The book also keeps the reader guessing at just how far Becky stooped to get what she wanted. Was she sleeping around? With whom? When? And the movie preserved this "question" & perpetuates this mystery even at its conclusion. In the book, there was also the suggestion that she had a hand in Jos Sedley's death (Amelia's bumbling brother), which was never explicitly explained, but the movie ended with this woman walking away hand on arm with Mr. Sedley while wearing her usual malicious grin that suggests poor Mr. Sedley to be the unsuspecting lamb being led to the slaughter.
This movie also casted actors & actresses that fit each character perfectly. Each character was exactly how I would like each person to look. Amelia Sedley has a gentle, pale face & quietness that fits her. Jos Sedley her overweight, dopey, nearly cross-eyed brother was comical to behold. George Osborne was tall w/ angular jaws & was handsome which fit the book character well. Major Dobbin's actor portrayed perfectly that serious, contemplative honest man whom the reader & viewer cannot help but love. Rawley, Becky's husband was tall in appearace which the book stressed upon as well, with a handsome, cocky face, who was able to play Rawley the rake, then Rawley the socialite, Rawley the good husband, the good father, & the repentent Rawley, whereby the viewer/reader mourns him for all that he could have been had not his wife been so selfish & cold. Finally, the actress that played Becky was both beautiful & wicked at the same time. Even as the character Becky was pretending to be upset, the actress did an excellent job portraying someone acting/deceiving the other character(s). And her eyes seemed very alert & calculating even as her face exhibited (false) kindness or attention. The other Vanity Fair movie with Reese Witherspoon was so poorly casted that I could barely watch it. And part of the problem was the selection of the cast. Reese's face is far to innocent & guileless to play the serpert, Becky Sharp. And really, do 19th Century gentlemen gel their hair into spikes? Surfer types in Victorian suites just doesn't work.
In conclusion, a great movie to visualize a great book. I urge any Victorian literature enthusiast to read the book too. It's a book that's loaded with social and moral issues that leaves you thinking. And please forego the Vanity Fair movie starring Reese Witherspoon, you'll thank me for it. |
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 "vanity fair--" | 2008-03-12 |
| - Reviewed By southernchelz |
| The acting was mediocre. The story just wasn't what I wanted it to be. There is a bit of nudity which was unnecessary. I don't know which movie is closer to the book but if I had to pick one I would choose the newest one with Reese Witherspoon. It just had a better and more dramatic ending. The production was a decent one and that is the best I can give it. |
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| "Simply the best" | 2007-11-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1B9IGCBSN5C4S |
| The best movie adaptation. I love this movie and I love the book. The actors are brilliant. |
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| "Mute the Horns" | 2007-08-25 |
| - Reviewed By evans_calif |
| The story is well done. The music is excruciating: either public dirge, or bad beerhall. Perhaps the makers thought the music for the series should have a martial theme: lots of brass, especially tuba, none muted. Be prepared to mute the horns yourself during many scenes without dialogue. Painful. |
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| "The last word on Thackeray's satirical masterpiece" | 2007-05-21 |
| - Reviewed By lionessecareptyltd |
If you are considering a dramatic rendition of Vanity Fair, this BBC production is definitely the most superior. Becky Sharpe is played by Natasha Little and it is a wonder this actor has not been seen much since: She is magnificent in this role - manipulative, delightful and 'Sharpe as a tack' as Thackeray intended. (Nb. she actually played the part of the sweet natured Lady Jane Sheepshanks in the US film where Reese Witherspoon took the main role). Take note of all the names: Dobbin is supposed to suggest a plodding loyalty, Becky IS sharpe and Lord Steyne is indeed a stain on morality!
The costumes and settings are so realistic that some history documentaries have used sections of this mini-series to illustrate the battle of Waterloo.
When it was originally televised here it obtained almost cult status, each episode was eagerly and impatiently awaited. I have TWO copies of the mini-series on video and am very happy to now own it on DVD.
Ignore the American production starring Reese Witherspoon, the BBC's Becky carries the day. Regardless of these opinions, the series is also a valuable historical documentary with insights into class, daily life and Waterloo. It is superbly entertaining also. |
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