Daisy Miller (1974)

In this comedy of manners, Frederick Winterbourne tries to figure out the bright and bubbly Daisy Miller, only to be helped and hindered by false judgments from their fellow friends.

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers:

Henry James (story), Frederic Raphael

Stars:

Cybill Shepherd, Barry Brown, Cloris Leachman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cybill Shepherd	...	Annie P. 'Daisy' Miller
Barry Brown	...	Frederick Winterbourne
Cloris Leachman	...	Mrs. Ezra Miller
Mildred Natwick	...	Mrs. Costello
Eileen Brennan	...	Mrs. Walker
Duilio Del Prete	...	Mr. Gionavelli
James McMurtry	...	Randolph C. Miller
Nicholas Jones	...	Charles
George Morfogen	...	Eugenio
Jean-Pascal Bongard	...	Hotel Receptionist Vevey
Albert Messmer	...	Tutor
Jacques Guhl	...	Polish Boy
Hubert Geoldun	...	Polish Boy
David Bush	...	Man at Chillon
Henri Hubinet	...	Chillon Guide

Storyline

In this version of Henry James' novella "Daisy Miller", a young, bright and bubbly 19th Century American girl on her Grand Tour of Europe meets a fellow American, Frederick Winterbourne. Winterbourne is shocked by Daisy's modern behavior toward life, and spends his time with her trying to figure out if she's having innocent fun or on the path to becoming a fallen woman. Along the way, Winterbourne's judgment is helped and hindered by the other people in Daisy's life. Is Daisy really naive or naughty?

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Plot Keywords:

19th century | nouveau riche | social climber | victorian era | class differences | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1975 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Uma Mulher às Direitas

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Copa del Oro, Directors Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Peter Bogdanovich initially planned on playing the role of Winterbourne himself opposite his then-girlfriend Shepard, with Orson Welles taking on the duties of director. However, when Welles declined, Bogdanovich decided to direct the picture instead.

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Quotes

Annie P. 'Daisy' Miller: I'm a terrible, frightful flirt. Did you ever hear of a nice girl that wasn't? But now I guess you'll tell me I'm not a nice girl.

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Connections

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

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Soundtracks

"When You and I Were Young, Maggy"
Written by G. W. Johnson and J. A. Butterfield

User Reviews

Very Underrated Film

Excellent adaptation of the Henry James story about a willful girl in Europe and the price she pays.

Peter Bogdanovich does an excellent job in recreating the long-ago world when Americans of means made "the grand tour" and saw everything there was to see in Europe. The leisurely world of the moneyed classes before World War I is beautifully realized here with breathtaking scenery, sets, and costumes. Just perfect.

This film has been unjustly maligned for more than 30 years and needs to be re-assessed. The cast is just about perfect.

Cybill Shepherd is the perfect Daisy. A naive girl from Schenectady who talks nonstop and flirts with all the men. The old women among the expatriate set think she's wicked, not very innocent, etc. But the callow American-born Winterbourne (Barry Brown) who has been educated in Geneva falls for her simple ways and beauty. Is she a mantrap? Or is she just what she seems to be.... a slightly silly girl who is a little too headstrong? Shepherd chatters and flirts to perfection, leaving Brown a flustered and confused suitor. Cloris Leachman is the ditzy mother. Mildred Natwick is the world-weary aunt. Eileen Brennan is the catty widow. Duilio del Prete is the "little Roman." Several scenes are standouts: Shepherd singing "Maggie" is a highlight. She sings nicely and is beautifully framed in a large window. The "spa" scene with Natwick and Brown is hilarious as the various "bathers" loll about in the hot-spring pool with various items floating about on inflated pillows. The aunt and nephew are taking tea while two old men play chess.... A vase with flowers drifts by... Oh so languid and leisurely an age. Og course being a Henry James story, poor Daisy does get her comeuppance.

The film is a total treat, filled with good acting and humor and those gorgeous views of Vevey, Switzerland.