Although I wouldn't say this film is actually enjoyable, it does give a good feel for life in the 60's - at a certain level at least.
From topless bars to the TVs crackling away in the background about the war in Vietnam, "Petulia" has plenty of incidental detail of the mid-60s. The story itself seems rather pointless, also reflecting how many seemed to feel about their lives at the time. In a way, it captures the age as effectively as "Woodstock" or "Easy Rider", but from a totally different viewpoint.
Set in San Francisco, Petulia Danner (Julie Christie) is an impulsive woman who latches onto the prominent middle aged Dr. Archie Bollen (George C Scott) and ignites an affair of sorts. Everybody in the story has issues: she is caught in a marriage to David Danner (Richard Chamberlain), an abusive man who has issues to spare, while Archie Bollen has recently left his wife and two young boys. Archie's friends find it hard to accept the breakup as it highlights their own fragile relationships. In fine 60s style, everyone is searching for meaning to their lives, and on it goes until the bleak fade out.
Director Mark Lester didn't miss one chic effect; the film has flash-forwards as well as flashbacks - all very now back then, but looking too self-conscious these days.
The film has two of the most beautiful faces of the time: a luminous Julie Christie and a smoothly handsome Richard Chamberlain, and one of the craggiest, George C Scott, just before he strapped on the ivory-handled pistols for "Patton". Joseph Cotton as David Danner's insufferable father represented the despised establishment of the day.
John Barry composed a wistful score full of longing that had more depth than much of the film. During the 60s Barry came up with one brilliant score after another; "Petulia" was one of them.
People are often fascinated by the era just before they were born and for those with a fascination for the 60s the film has much to offer. At first glance, it may not seem connected with flower power, hippie culture or free love, but in a way, those attitudes can be seen shaping the actions of the film's characters.
With that said though, this is a film where the sum of the parts is actually greater than the whole.
From topless bars to the TVs crackling away in the background about the war in Vietnam, "Petulia" has plenty of incidental detail of the mid-60s. The story itself seems rather pointless, also reflecting how many seemed to feel about their lives at the time. In a way, it captures the age as effectively as "Woodstock" or "Easy Rider", but from a totally different viewpoint.
Set in San Francisco, Petulia Danner (Julie Christie) is an impulsive woman who latches onto the prominent middle aged Dr. Archie Bollen (George C Scott) and ignites an affair of sorts. Everybody in the story has issues: she is caught in a marriage to David Danner (Richard Chamberlain), an abusive man who has issues to spare, while Archie Bollen has recently left his wife and two young boys. Archie's friends find it hard to accept the breakup as it highlights their own fragile relationships. In fine 60s style, everyone is searching for meaning to their lives, and on it goes until the bleak fade out.
Director Mark Lester didn't miss one chic effect; the film has flash-forwards as well as flashbacks - all very now back then, but looking too self-conscious these days.
The film has two of the most beautiful faces of the time: a luminous Julie Christie and a smoothly handsome Richard Chamberlain, and one of the craggiest, George C Scott, just before he strapped on the ivory-handled pistols for "Patton". Joseph Cotton as David Danner's insufferable father represented the despised establishment of the day.
John Barry composed a wistful score full of longing that had more depth than much of the film. During the 60s Barry came up with one brilliant score after another; "Petulia" was one of them.
People are often fascinated by the era just before they were born and for those with a fascination for the 60s the film has much to offer. At first glance, it may not seem connected with flower power, hippie culture or free love, but in a way, those attitudes can be seen shaping the actions of the film's characters.
With that said though, this is a film where the sum of the parts is actually greater than the whole.