Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2797 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-09-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Customer Reviews

DO get this version
If you're into well-acted movies with a strong literary yet romatic leaning, this is the flick for you. Norma Shearer (once married to boy genius producer, Irving Thalberg) plays poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning to Fredric March's Robert Browning. A true-life love story!

DON'T get or even be bothered with the pasty Jennifer Jones remake. This is the genuine article, with a stellar performance by Charles Laughton as the Father You Love to Hate. Laughton's performance really should be up there as one of the most despicable Hollywood villians EVER filned! Compare him to any James Bond villian and I think you might just agree. He is perfectly horrible; a snake willing to eat his own young. There is a scene (towards the end of the movie) between him and Norma Shearer, that even with 1930's Hollywood Production Code subtly, will still give you the creeps.

The chemistry between Shearer and March is enchanting. You really do care about these two lonely, bright, creative people connecting. Maureen O'Sullivan (Mia Farrow's mom) is wonderful as Elizabth's sister, who really gets the romantic ball rolling. The costumes are lovely and the director's choice to keep the film mostly confined to invalid Elizabeth's bedroom is quietly brilliant.

While is is a stagey film, as many of Shearer's movies are, I believe it holds up extremely well. It is more than worth a look-see and is a fine addition to a classic film buff's library.

Also, it's a pretty good chick flick for coffee, chocolates and converssation!

Fine Saga Of Love And Courtship In Victorian England
"The Barretts of Wimpole Street", was an prestigious stage play that gave famed actress Katherine Cornell one of her most memorable acting roles in the early years of last century. It was with this thought in mind and hoping that the earlier critical success could be repeated on screen that MGM boy genius Irving Thalberg purchased the property as a vehicle for his wife, the first lady of MGM Norma Shearer. It was all part of Thalberg's personal campaign to elevate Norma to the ranks of the acting elite by performing in film properties that had respected theatrical pedigrees. This was really the first of these ambitious efforts and would be followed in later years by no expense spared productions of "Romeo and Juliet", and "Marie Antoniette". Despite her lack of theatrical training Norma Shearer does excellently in the role of invalid poetess Elizabeth Barrett and she manages to remove quite a bit of the static quality that comes with such a stage constructed piece as this . Combined with the fine talents of Fredric March and especially Charles Laughton in a stunning performance as her tyrannical father the film version became an acting tour de force for all three leads with Norma quite rightly earning another Academy Award nomination as Best Actress of the year.

The story in actual fact is simple and straight forward and details the romance that blossoms between Elizabeth, an invalid in her domineering father's house, and acclaimed poet Robert Browning. The friendship that first develops via letters grows into a consuming love affair after the two finally meet and through the love and devotion that Elizabeth receives we witness a rapid improvement in her health where she begins to enjoy life and begins going out into the world. Elizabeth's new found happiness however is continually blighted by her overbearing father Edward Moulton-Barrett (Charles Laughton), who has it as his aim to not allow any of his 9 children to marry or have any relations with people outside of the family. He comes into conflict not only with Elizabeth and Robert but also with his spirited younger daughter Henrietta (Maureen O"Sullivan), who begins a romance much to her father's disgust, with Captain Surtees Cook (Ralph Forbes). With Robert's promise of a new happier world and future life as his wife, Elizabeth grows in confidence and inner strength and with the assistance of loyal maid Wilson (Una O"Connor) she plots to make her escape and go away with Robert. After much soul searching and heated discussions with her as always obstinate father about the rights and wrongs of marrying Robert, Elizabeth decides that he will never change and leaves her family home where she has not only been a physical prisoner but also an emotional one for far too long. The final scenes see Elizabeth leave the house against her father's wishes to begin a new life with Robert taking Wilson her always devoted servant with her.

Despite the very stagey appearance of much of the film which largely confines the main action to Elizabeth's bedroom the good performances do to a large extent help "open out" the stage origins of the piece. Norma Shearer is both reserved and at times wonderfully spirited in her multi layered playing of Elizabeth and her early work as a full invalid is very well executed in particular when with Robert's prompting she takes her first tentative steps away from the security of her bedroom. Shearer who was often reluctant to take on the mantle of the highly polished queen of period dress films that her husband envisioned for her, was at first most reluctant to tackle the role of a largely bedridden invalid. Reunited with her popular "Smilin' Through" costar Fredric March however she soon saw the golden opportunity awaiting her and she created one of her best pieces of work on film. The story really comes alive in the many heated exchanges that take place between Elizabeth and her horrid father. Here the real dramatic power of "The Barretts of Wimpole Street",lies and Norma Shearer more than holds her own in the dramatic stakes with such a seasoned scene stealer as Charles Laughton. While Laughton's character is all spite and hatred it can be seen thanks to his expert playing of the part, that alot of what motivates him is bascially a deep seated fear of being eventually left on his own. What is amazing is the fact that despite being almost the same age as Norma Shearer, the wonders of makeup have allowed Laughton to convincingly play her father and never once does it look odd or unrealistic. Being a grade "A" production the film has a beautiful rich look and feel to it courtesy of MGM. Attention to detail in sets and general period flavour is top rate and designer Adrian again has excelled with his magnificent historically accurate costumes especially for Norma Shearer and Maureen O"Sullivan. Director Sidney Franklin had a difficult task on his hands in opening out a story that clearly betrayed its stage origins and in the second half in particular he succeeds very well in giving the story more movement and dimension. He liked the material so much that he went on to remake this film to far less dramatic acclaim in the 1950's with Jennifer Jones taking the Elizabeth Barrett role.

"The Barretts of Wimpole Street", is without a doubt one of the crowning glories in the careers of all three lead performers. Norma Shearer totally deserved the acclaim she won for her work here and she managed to make the character of Elizabeth Barrett totally her own. It is definately movie making of the old school and while the romance between these two young lovers may appear a bit dated it is thanks to the determined playing by Charles Laughton adding the necessary spice to the proceedings that makes it totally enjoyable viewing. Treat yourself to a viewing of this early MGM gem and see how Norma Shearer with the influencing of her husband rightly became known as the prestigious Queen of MGM productions during the 1930's.

Heart-Warming and Inspiring
This movie is an inspiring true story, not only about love but, how one triumphs over domination, and leave a indelible mark we all still can appreciate. It warms your heart and leaves you wanting more.