The Beguiled (1971)

While imprisoned in a Confederate girls' boarding school, an injured Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.

Director:

Don Siegel (as Donald Siegel)

Writers:

Albert Maltz (screenplay) (as John B. Sherry), Irene Kamp (screenplay) (as Grimes Grice)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Hartman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	John McBurney
Geraldine Page	...	Martha
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Edwina
Jo Ann Harris	...	Carol
Darleen Carr	...	Doris
Mae Mercer	...	Hallie
Pamelyn Ferdin	...	Amy
Melody Thomas Scott	...	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 G. Martin	...	2nd Confederate Captain (as Charles Martin)
Matt Clark	...	Scrogins
Patrick Culliton	...	Miles Farnswoth

Storyline

As the costly American Civil War still rages on, a twelve-year-old student of the forgotten Miss Martha Farnsworth's Seminary for Young Ladies in warm and humid Mississippi stumbles upon a gravely wounded Union soldier, Corporal John McBurney (Clint Eastwood). Taken in to recover from his injuries, McBurney is imprisoned in a small room inside the mansion. However, before long, the seductive and unwanted guest will manage to take advantage of the female inhabitants' wartime-subdued desires. But is McBurney really in control over the situation?

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Plot Keywords:

leg amputation | american civil war | southern gothic | union soldier | confederate | 

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Taglines:

Who is really the captor and who the captive?

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clint Eastwood's amputated leg is the same artificial limb used in the opening credits of The Six Million Dollar Man (1974).

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Goofs

Edwina sings a couple of lines from the gospel song "In the Garden," which wasn't written until 1912, more than 50 years after the time of the story.

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Quotes

Amy: You were in her room. Why? And she was all naked. And I, and I thought you loved me!

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Alternate Versions

The leg amputation scene was edited by the censors for the film's original UK cinema release. Later releases were uncut and rated 15.

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Connections

Featured in Eastwood on Eastwood (1997)

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Soundtracks

In the Garden
Written by C. Austin Miles
Performed by Elizabeth Hartman

User Reviews

an overlooked treasure

Anybody who hasn't seen this film is truly missing something special. Though it may not necessarily be for everyones tastes. This film may possibly break more 'sexual taboos' than any other, and it is another wonderful example of the early 70's trend of high creativity and barrier's being broken like no other time. It is haunting and unusual, both erotic and disturbing. Lalo Schifrin's music is superbly "dreamy" and dark, the photography and imagery are equally so. A very intelligent, groundbreaking inventive film.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

23 January 1971 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Beguiled

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,100,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,113,069

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Malpaso Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1