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The Beguiled (1971)

 -  Drama | Romance | War  -  28 May 1971 (Finland)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 6,432 users  
Reviews: 63 user | 41 critic

While imprisoned in a Confederate girls boarding school, a Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts.

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
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Title: The Beguiled (1971)

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American classic in which a manipulative woman and a roguish man carry on a turbulent love affair in the American south during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O'Neil, Vivien Leigh
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Martha
...
Edwina
...
Carol
Darleen Carr ...
Doris
Mae Mercer ...
Hallie
Pamelyn Ferdin ...
Amy
...
Abigail (as Melody Thomas)
Peggy Drier ...
Lizzie
Patricia Mattick ...
Janie (as Pattye Mattick)
Charlie Briggs ...
1st Confederate Captain (as Charles Briggs)
George Dunn ...
Sam Jefferson
Charles Martin ...
2nd Confederate Captain
...
Scrogins
Patrick Culliton ...
Miles Farnswoth
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Storyline

During the civil war, injured Yankee soldier, John McBurney is rescued on the verge of death by a teenage girl from a southern boarding school. She manages to get him back to the school, and at first the all-female staff and pupils are scared. As he starts to recover, one by one he charms them and the atmosphere becomes filled with jealousy and deceit. Written by Col Needham <col@imdb.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

One man...seven women...in a strange house! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Romance | War | Western

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

28 May 1971 (Finland)  »

Also Known As:

Betrogen  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Other titles contemplated by Universal Pictures were "Pussy-footing Down at the Old Plantation" and "On One I Walked". See more »

Goofs

When McB is playing cards the deck has both the pictures (hearts, spades, etc) and the number in the corner. They didn't put #s on cards until 1864 and it was extremely rare to see a deck with them until 20-30 years after the war See more »

Quotes

Martha Farnsworth: Removing the ligatures will be painful. Do you want some laudanum?
Cpl. John McBurney: No thanks, kind lady! I'll fall asleep, and then just by chance, you might cut off my... other leg.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Reflections of Evil (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"Dove She is a Pretty Bird"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed by Clint Eastwood
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Had to have been scandalous for its time.
3 December 2006 | by (Omaha, NE USA) – See all my reviews

During the brief period between Clint Eastwood's string of spaghetti westerns and his Dirty Harry films, he and director Don Siegel teamed up to make this unusual picture. Eastwood plays an injured Union Army corporal during the Civil War who is taken in by a southern school for girls until he recovers from his wounds. It has been a while since the young women (most of which seem to be teenagers) have had a man on the premises, so they are reluctant to turn him in to the local rebel soldiers. The resulting situations are often humorous, shocking, erotic, or even downright grotesque as Eastwood slowly regains his strength and begins to brood over the establishment.

The basic storyline almost sounds like the makings of a porno film. We have a masculine male suddenly surrounded by young nubile women. Most of them are sexually attracted to him. And he is more than willing to spread the love amongst them. The material never really slips down to the level of "tasteless", however. Eastwood, Siegel, and cinematographer Bruce Surtees are such skilled filmmakers, that the film always retains its dignity.

Eastwood's John McBurney is like no other character he has ever played. McBurney is an amoral, conniving, and lustful charlatan. He knows that most of the women, even the youngest want his bod, and he lets more than one of them have a shot at him. McBurney often uses flattery to butter the women up, then uses his rugged good looks to reel them in. He is like a drunken player at a cocktail party, often hitting on different women even in the same scene! Eventually, his lustful ways cause him great agony and loss in a way you must see for yourselves. This author would not dream of revealing the specific consequences of his actions, but there is little doubt he has them coming.

Eastwood gives a typically great performance. He seems to be having a blast with the role until things turn really ugly, then he turns mean and ugly. Geraldine Page is a treat as the steely B*tch who runs the school. We know she wants McBurney as much as the other girls, but with her checkered past shown to us in flashbacks, we find out that isn't all she's after! Mae Mercer as a slave belonging to the school gives a great performance, too. She obviously knows McBurney is a skunk from the beginning, and she never lets his phony charm bring her guard down. This is a character you will want to know more about after the film is over. She seems to have a greater knowledge of the world than anyone else in the film.

The Beguiled did poorly in its theatrical release. Nobody was quite sure what to make of it, and some of its content no doubt raised a few eyebrows in 1971. For example, in an early scene we see Eastwood romantically kiss a 12-yr-old girl. Is he just trying to keep her quiet when the rebel soldiers get close, or is he really enjoying it? Probably both! A fantasy sequence later on even shows Clint getting it on with not only Page, but her young assistant! Truly some interesting goings on in this one. It's a good thing Eastwood became the star he did, or this one might have been long forgotten.

Highly recommended. 9 of 10 stars.

The Hound.


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Recent Posts
A couple of questions and THAT dream sequence... the_playboy_bunny69
McB says he's a Quaker harland-ncl
Clint Eastwood is a pimp in this movie matty5421
Death of both stars in 1 week... Meryllevykryza
Why haven't I ever heard of this movie? onn1320
Martha + Edwina (TRIVIA) insinyur
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