Well, this was quite a surprise. Based on the largely unfavourable reviews, I was expecting a laughable, musty melodrama with very few redeeming qualities. While there's no denying this is pure melodrama, it's still worthwhile. I wouldn't call myself a big Eugene O'Neill lover, but I do find myself drawn to a number of his plays ('Anna Christie' is another example). As with most O'Neill this is dark, moody stuff. I was surprised how heavy the subject matter was for a still Code-bound late 50's movie. Anthony Perkins shows he could play a sinisterly handsome, obsessive nutcase two years before 'Psycho'. While his teaming with the luscious Sophia Loren at first looks extremely odd, they do give off some heat together as the hateful lovers seeking to undermine Burl Ives, Perkins hated father and Loren's much older spouse. At times the melodrama gets completely ridiculous (Burl Ives'76 year old patriarch doing cartwheels to prove his virility is very weird), but the plot just reeled me in and kept me intrigued throughout.
Review of Desire Under the Elms
