The Sound and the Fury (1959)

Drama focusing on a family of Southern aristocrats who are trying to deal with the dissolution of their clan and the loss of its reputation, faith, fortunes and respect.

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Irving Ravetch (screenplay), Harriet Frank Jr. (screenplay)

Stars:

Yul Brynner, Joanne Woodward, Margaret Leighton

Cast

Cast overview:
Yul Brynner	...	Jason Compson
Joanne Woodward	...	Quentin Compson / Narrator
Margaret Leighton	...	Caddy Compson
Stuart Whitman	...	Charlie Busch
Ethel Waters	...	Dilsey
Jack Warden	...	Ben Compson
Françoise Rosay	...	Mrs. Caroline Compson
John Beal	...	Howard Compson
Albert Dekker	...	Earl Snopes
Steven Perry	...	Luster (as Stephen Perry)
Bill Gunn	...	T.P., Dilsey's Grandson (as William Gunn)
Roy Glenn	...	Job

Storyline

Loosely based on the William Faulkner novel, this movie follows the lives and passions of the Compsons: a once-proud Southern family now just barely scraping by both financially and emotionally. Howard passes the time in a bottle; his brother Bengy is child in a man's body; sister Caddy has come crawling home after years of being kept by a string of "admirers". Only Jason, the cruel, cold-hearted adopted head of the family, and Quentin, who was abandoned at birth by Caddy, have the fire and the fury needed to put the family back on its feet again.

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Plot Keywords:

mississippi | southern reconstruction | post american civil war | southern u.s. | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

Blistering Drama of a Sinful Family!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1959 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,710,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Wald Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Margaret Leighton replaced Lana Turner.

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Goofs

When Caddie and Quentin are talking in Caddie's bedroom, the shadow of the boom mic is visible in the mirror above the dressing table.

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Quotes

Quentin Compson: I just happen to be an eccentric.

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Connections

Referenced in Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven' (2000)

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Soundtracks

Old Folks at Home
(uncredited)
aka "Swanee River"
Music by Stephen Foster
Played as the carriage goes past the carnival entrance

User Reviews

Interesting Southern Gothic, complete with its clichés

Why is it that all stories regarding the South have to have at least one character who is mentally challenged? Oh well, at least Jack Warden was convincing.

Predictably dreary directing by Martin Ritt (Hud; Hombre).

Brynner was definitely out of place as the lead, but Georgia native Woodward was right on target.

British actress Margaret Leigton was terrific. She's another reminder that even in the 50's, some of Hollywood's best were skinny, chain-smoking women from across the pond. Some things never change, I guess.

The print I saw on INHD was in excellent shape. I wonder why this hasn't been released on DVD.