It is such a magnificent series - much like "I Claudius" I doubt if they could make a series of such superb quality with an incredibly brilliant cast today. It really has few equals - and I never tire of watching it again and again, which is testimony to its brilliance.
This is my favorite scene in the entire show, mainly because of the indescribably elegant Claire Bloom --- such class, such dignity, such grace, such impeccable speech. Yes, her character is quite repellent and manipulative, but it is essential to remember where she was coming from, a world that was slipping away, a world based on privilege and manners, but also, for her, a precarious Catholic world coming up for air in the midst of the Catholic Revival. Claire Bloom is mesmerizing.
It's interesting that everyone blames Lady Marchmain for her son's (and her husband's) alcoholism. In fact, earlier in the story, Cara states that LM has done nothing to merit the hatred of her son and husband, but that they are basically unable to grow up and let go of childhood and its illusions. Since Waugh wrote that, presumably that is what he wants us to thing. People tend to project their issues with parents, religion, etc onto characters. The text says otherwise.
I think that anyone who criticizes Lady Marchmain for her Catholic faith or finds that to be the source of her oppressiveness misunderstands the character and the novel. Waugh was a pious Catholic, and the two most climactic moments of the book are Lord Marchmain's deathbed reconciliation and Charles Ryder's conversion to Catholicism.
It never fails; whenever I see this scene I am totally seduced by Claire Bloom. Even Charles, for a fleeting instant, almost succumbed to her. "I prayed for you too in the night" --- her gentle tone, that mesmerizing diction, that deceptively loving subdued smile --- no wonder Anthony Blanche called her a femme fatale who kills with her looks. Claire Bloom, truly one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses ever!
@@luisecawthorne1025 Close, but not quite right. When Charles tells him (Ep. 7 part 5) that his mother is very ill and would like to see him, Sebastian replies, "Poor Mummy. She really was a femme fatale, wasn't she. She killed with a touch." Charles gets notice a few days later that she has died.
sebastian's mom just don't get it that the reason sebastian got so extremely drunk when it was just his family and charles there at the house is because he is not happy at the house around his family. he never was happy there.
Oh poor, poor Charles! Obviously his complaints were England's and humanity's greatest problem at the time.
12 лет назад+1
it's silly to call lady marchmain manipulative, venomous, and other ugly names because she isn't any of that she is the way she is; an uncompromising good person who expect others, especially those she loves to be likewise. a sort of saint. so of course they fail. weak people like sebastian can't handle their failure, so they run away geographically or through alcohol. it's hard to live with a saint.
I don't like the way Charles treats Sebastian. If my friend was in such a state, I would do everything in my power to get them out of the situation and help in any way I could. Charles doesn't seem to care that much.
@lizclegg a little late………it certainly DOES NOT JUSTIFY her being repellent and manipulative, but her zealous devotion to a rigid orthodoxy and her belief that she knows and understands things better amplifies where she was coming from. Sadly, she was a victim of her own circumstances; her dogmatic self-righteousness blinded her to reality. But, God, is Claire Bloom glorious!!
57monks- i still think her character sufficates her poor son Sebastian. there is no sit downs w/her. it's her catholic way Or the highway...and sebastian AND her husband chose the highway. i still see her character as smothering and dripping w/catholic ignorance! they both are left gasping for air...and the only way to escape is to LEAVE.
I'm struck by all the hate for Lady Marchmain as some kind of femme fatale manipulating everyone in her quest to control her charming son. Anthony Blanche labeled her that way but though he's perceptive in many ways his perspective is warped--classic unreliable narrator--but viewers seem to accept his assessment at face value. Lady Marchmain was abandoned by her husband for another woman after he turned into a bitter alcoholic when his youthful infatuation with her faded. Now she sees her son headed down similar path and wants to stop it. Regardless of contemporary attitudes, Lord Marchmain lives with another woman out of wedlock and Sebastian is gay and obviously in love with his best friend, and these are deeply problematic situations to a devout Catholic. She's profoundly worried for the state of both their souls as any wife or mother would be. Viewers villainize her as a charming manipulator, but that describes Sebastián far better if you think about it. Anyone who's been close to an addict recognizes that in him.
But as Antony B says, I am not English, I do not understand this zest to be well bred”. Even earlier, at the dinner at Thame “it will nit appeal to the hearties of the Bullingdon” look it up: it’s an unofficial Oxford club. Most recent members are David Cameron & Boris Johnson. No women
It is such a magnificent series - much like "I Claudius" I doubt if they could make a series of such superb quality with an incredibly brilliant cast today. It really has few equals - and I never tire of watching it again and again, which is testimony to its brilliance.
This is my favorite scene in the entire show, mainly because of the indescribably elegant Claire Bloom --- such class, such dignity, such grace, such impeccable speech. Yes, her character is quite repellent and manipulative, but it is essential to remember where she was coming from, a world that was slipping away, a world based on privilege and manners, but also, for her, a precarious Catholic world coming up for air in the midst of the Catholic Revival. Claire Bloom is mesmerizing.
It's interesting that everyone blames Lady Marchmain for her son's (and her husband's) alcoholism. In fact, earlier in the story, Cara states that LM has done nothing to merit the hatred of her son and husband, but that they are basically unable to grow up and let go of childhood and its illusions. Since Waugh wrote that, presumably that is what he wants us to thing. People tend to project their issues with parents, religion, etc onto characters. The text says otherwise.
Sebastian is like a little boy with his thumb in his mouth, who pouts and throw tantrum, with his mummy and teddy bear. He is cute though.
where's his teddy bear? i haven't seen it in a while..
The teddy bear probably got sick of him, too.
"Why now?Here with us.".I think she answers her own question.
I think that anyone who criticizes Lady Marchmain for her Catholic faith or finds that to be the source of her oppressiveness misunderstands the character and the novel. Waugh was a pious Catholic, and the two most climactic moments of the book are Lord Marchmain's deathbed reconciliation and Charles Ryder's conversion to Catholicism.
I would point out that Lord Marchmain in Italy isn`t an alcoholic.There is no Lady Marchmain in Italy.
"The men I grew up with were not like that" - would she have known if they were?
It never fails; whenever I see this scene I am totally seduced by Claire Bloom. Even Charles, for a fleeting instant, almost succumbed to her. "I prayed for you too in the night" --- her gentle tone, that mesmerizing diction, that deceptively loving subdued smile --- no wonder Anthony Blanche called her a femme fatale who kills with her looks. Claire Bloom, truly one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses ever!
That was what Sebastian said when he heard his mother had died
@@luisecawthorne1025 Close, but not quite right. When Charles tells him (Ep. 7 part 5) that his mother is very ill and would like to see him, Sebastian replies, "Poor Mummy. She really was a femme fatale, wasn't she. She killed with a touch." Charles gets notice a few days later that she has died.
@1963amw "effect"
sebastian's mom just don't get it that the reason sebastian got so extremely drunk when it was just his family and charles there at the house is because he is not happy at the house around his family. he never was happy there.
Oh poor, poor Charles! Obviously his complaints were England's and humanity's greatest problem at the time.
it's silly to call lady marchmain manipulative, venomous, and other ugly names because she isn't any of that
she is the way she is; an uncompromising good person who expect others, especially those she loves to be likewise. a sort of saint.
so of course they fail. weak people like sebastian can't handle their failure, so they run away geographically or through alcohol.
it's hard to live with a saint.
I don't like the way Charles treats Sebastian. If my friend was in such a state, I would do everything in my power to get them out of the situation and help in any way I could. Charles doesn't seem to care that much.
I don't know how accidental her issues are. She reads people very well and changes her mode of attack accordingly. Manipulator. Perpetual victim.
That's rich. And Sebastian...?
@lizclegg a little late………it certainly DOES NOT JUSTIFY her being repellent and manipulative, but her zealous devotion to a rigid orthodoxy and her belief that she knows and understands things better amplifies where she was coming from. Sadly, she was a victim of her own circumstances; her dogmatic self-righteousness blinded her to reality. But, God, is Claire Bloom glorious!!
80s not 30s hairstyles
57monks- i still think her character sufficates her poor son Sebastian. there is no sit downs w/her. it's her catholic way Or the highway...and sebastian AND her husband chose the highway. i still see her character as smothering and dripping w/catholic ignorance! they both are left gasping for air...and the only way to escape is to LEAVE.
Bingo. As Woolf wrote in her novel Mrs. Dalloway : " ...religion tends to make people rather callous."
I'm struck by all the hate for Lady Marchmain as some kind of femme fatale manipulating everyone in her quest to control her charming son.
Anthony Blanche labeled her that way but though he's perceptive in many ways his perspective is warped--classic unreliable narrator--but viewers seem to accept his assessment at face value.
Lady Marchmain was abandoned by her husband for another woman after he turned into a bitter alcoholic when his youthful infatuation with her faded. Now she sees her son headed down similar path and wants to stop it. Regardless of contemporary attitudes, Lord Marchmain lives with another woman out of wedlock and Sebastian is gay and obviously in love with his best friend, and these are deeply problematic situations to a devout Catholic.
She's profoundly worried for the state of both their souls as any wife or mother would be.
Viewers villainize her as a charming manipulator, but that describes Sebastián far better if you think about it. Anyone who's been close to an addict recognizes that in him.
Interesting especially about Sebastian being the manipulator
But as Antony B says, I am not English, I do not understand this zest to be well bred”. Even earlier, at the dinner at Thame “it will nit appeal to the hearties of the Bullingdon” look it up: it’s an unofficial Oxford club. Most recent members are David Cameron & Boris Johnson. No women