Jump to content

Laughter in the Dark (film): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,695,952 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 1);
 
(44 intermediate revisions by 21 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|1969 film}}
{{Short description|1969 British film by Tony Richardson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
Line 6: Line 6:
| caption = Film poster
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Tony Richardson]]
| director = [[Tony Richardson]]
| producer = Neil Hartley<br>[[Elliott Kastner]]<br>[[Jerry Gershwin]]
| producer = Neil Hartley
| screenplay = [[Edward Bond]]
| screenplay = [[Edward Bond]]
| based_on = [[Laughter in the Dark (novel)|the novel]] by [[Vladimir Nabokov]]
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Laughter in the Dark (novel)|Laughter in the Dark]]''|[[Vladimir Nabokov]]}}
| starring = [[Nicol Williamson]]<br>[[Anna Karina]]
| starring = {{ubl|[[Nicol Williamson]]|[[Anna Karina]]}}
| music = [[Raymond Leppard]]
| music = [[Raymond Leppard]]
| cinematography = [[Dick Bush]]
| cinematography = [[Dick Bush]]
Line 15: Line 15:
| studio = [[Woodfall Film Productions]]
| studio = [[Woodfall Film Productions]]
| distributor = [[United Artists]] (UK)
| distributor = [[United Artists]] (UK)
| released = {{film date|1969|9|df=yes}}
| released = {{film date|1969|9|df=yes}} (UK)
| runtime = 104 minutes
| runtime = 104 minutes
| country = France<br>United Kingdom
| country = {{ubl|France|United Kingdom}}
| language = English
| language = English
| gross = $780,000<ref name="tino">Tino Balio, ''United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry'', University of Wisconsin Press, 1987 p. 246</ref>
| gross = $780,000<ref name="tino">Tino Balio, ''United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry'', University of Wisconsin Press, 1987 p. 246</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Laughter in the Dark''''' ({{lang-fr|'''La Chambre obscure'''}}) is a 1969 French-British [[drama film]] directed by [[Tony Richardson]] and starring [[Nicol Williamson]] and [[Anna Karina]].<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/126953/Laughter-in-the-Dark/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511221400/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/126953/Laughter-in-the-Dark/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 May 2012 |title=NY Times.com: Laughter in the Dark |accessdate=30 January 2010 | first=A. H. |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |publisher=[[Baseline (database)|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]] |date=2012 | last=Weiler}}</ref>
'''''Laughter in the Dark''''' ({{langx|fr|'''La Chambre obscure'''}}) is a 1969 [[romantic drama]] film directed by [[Tony Richardson]] and starring [[Nicol Williamson]], [[Anna Karina]] and [[Jean-Claude Drouot]].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Laughter in the Dark |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150216636 |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> The screenplay was by [[Edward Bond]]. It was based on the 1936 novel [[Laughter in the Dark (novel)|''Laughter in the Dark'']] by [[Vladimir Nabokov]], with the setting changed from 1930s [[Berlin]] to 1960s [[Swinging London]].

The film drew respectable reviews, but for reasons that are unclear, it was subsequently removed from distribution.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}


==Plot==
==Plot==
Sir Edward More is a wealthy married 40-year-old art dealer who becomes obsessed with young amoral gold-digging cinema usherette Margot and starts an affair with her. When his wife finds out, she leaves him.


At a party thrown for her by More, Margot meets ex-lover Herve Tourace, and they resume their relationship, deciding to exploit More for money. Margot lies to More that his assistant Brian has been making advances to her, and that she fancies him, and suggests he replaces Brian with Tourace, who she says is gay, so won't be a threat. More acquiesces and employs Tourace.
A married 40-year-old man called Sir Edward More (Nicol Williamson) falls in love with a sixteen-year-old girl called Margot (Anna Karina). However, she later cheats on him which eventually leads to him losing his eyesight while they argue in his car and crash when another car comes and they don't turn. She still has the affair but as Edward is now blind, she can have it right in front of him. Eventually, he finds out about the affair and confronts her with the gun. But she fatally shoots him and then runs off while his dead body is on the floor.

Margot suggests they holiday abroad. At a seaside resort, More bumps into Brian who also happens to be holidaying there. Margot and Tourace make love in a small boat, observed by Brian's wife, who tells More. Furious, More decides that he and Margot will leave immediately. As he drives at speed along a dangerous mountain road, he swerves to avoid oncoming cyclists, and crashes the car. He is blinded.

Margot finds them a villa, and they move in. Unknown to More, so does Tourace, and Margot and Tourace resume their relationship. More gradually becomes suspicious that there is someone else in the house, and eventually attacks the stranger. At the same time, his ex-wife's brother arrives, who says he has just seen Tourace fleeing the villa. More realises what has been going on. When Margot returns from a day trip, he tries to shoot her. He misses, then stumbles and fatally shoots himself. Margot runs from the villa.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Div col}}
* [[Nicol Williamson]] as Sir Edward More
* [[Nicol Williamson]] as Sir Edward More
* [[Anna Karina]] as Margot
* [[Anna Karina]] as Margot
* [[Jean-Claude Drouot]] as Herve Tourace
* [[Jean-Claude Drouot]] as Herve Tourace
* [[Peter Bowles]] as Paul
* [[Peter Bowles]] as Paul
* [[Siân Phillips]] as Lady Elizabeth More
* [[Siân Phillips]] as Lady Pamela More
* Sebastian Breaks as Brian
* Sebastian Breaks as Brian
* [[Kate O'Toole (actress)|Kate O'Toole]] as Amelia More
* [[Kate O'Toole (actress)|Kate O'Toole]] as Amelia More
⚫
* Edward Gardner as Driver
* [[Sheila Burrell]] as Miss Porly
* [[Sheila Burrell]] as Miss Porly
* [[Willoughby Goddard]] as Colonel
* [[Willoughby Goddard]] as colonel
* [[Basil Dignam]] as Dealer
* [[Basil Dignam]] as dealer
* [[Philippa Urquhart]] as Philippa
* [[Philippa Urquhart]] as Philippa
⚫
* Edward Gardner as chauffeur (uncredited)
* Helen Booth as maid (uncredited)
* [[Basil Dignam]] as art dealer (uncredited)
* John Atkinson as art dealer (uncredited)
* [[Donald Bisset]] as art dealer (uncredited)
* [[John Golightly]] as art dealer (uncredited)
* [[Mavis Villiers]] as woman at gallery (uncredited)
* Allison Blair as girl at gallery (uncredited)
* Diana Harris as girl at party (uncredited)
* Celia Brook as girl at party (uncredited)
* [[David Hockney]] as man at party (uncredited)
*[[Patrick Procktor]] as man at party (uncredited)
{{Div col end}}


==Production==
==Production==
===Casting===
Nicol Williamson was a very late replacement for [[Richard Burton]], who had already shot several scenes. Richardson had found Burton's lack of punctuality intolerable. To recruit Williamson in a hurry, Richardson sent a search party to comb the bars and bistros of the [[Cote d'Azur]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Walker |first=Alexander |title=Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor |date=1997 |publisher=[[Grove Press]] |isbn=978-0802137692 |pages=298–299}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Richardson |first=Tony |title=Long Distance Runner – A memoir |publisher=[[Faber & Faber]] |year=1993 |isbn=0-571-16852-3 |location=London |pages=213–15}}</ref>


===Filming locations===
It is based on [[Laughter in the Dark (novel)|the novel of the same name]] by [[Vladimir Nabokov]]. [[Nicol Williamson]] was brought in as a very late replacement for [[Richard Burton]], who had already shot several scenes. The director, [[Tony Richardson]], found Burton's lack of punctuality intolerable.<ref>Walker p.298-299</ref><ref>Richardson, pp. 213-5. Richardson had directed Williamson in ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' on stage and was planning to cast him as [[Hamlet]]. A famously turbulent and unpredictable actor himself, Richardson obviously saw him as a better bet than Burton. To recruit him in a hurry, Richardson sent a search party to comb the bars and bistros of the [[Cote d'Azur]].</ref> It was shot on location in England and [[Majorca]].
The film was shot on location in [[England]] and [[Majorca]].


==Release==
For the film, the story's setting was changed from 1930s Berlin to the [[Swinging London]] of the 1960s. The film drew respectable reviews, but for reasons that are unclear, it was subsequently removed from distribution. The film has only twice been shown on British television, (in 1974 and 1981 on BBC2), and has not been released on any home video format. Laszlo Papas was slated to direct a 1986 remake of the film which would have starred [[Mick Jagger]] as Axel Rex and [[Rebecca De Mornay]] as the young seductress; De Mornay was replaced by [[Maryam d'Abo]] after disagreements with the director, but ultimately the project went nowhere and the film was never made.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/adapting-nabokov|title = Nabokov and the Movies|date = 2 January 2015|accessdate = 5 January 2015|website = The New Yorker|last = Colapinto|first = John |author-link= John Colapinto }}</ref>
===Obscurity===
For unknown reasons, the film was removed from distribution.


It has only been shown twice on British television, in 1974 and 1981 on BBC2,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laughter in the Dark |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?q=Laughter+in+the+Dark+nicol#top |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=BBC Programme Index}}</ref> and has not been released on any home media format.
⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


===Critical reception===
==Bibliography==
''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' wrote: "''Laughter in the Dark'' proceeds to transcend content with style in a dazzling display of tender cruelty.&nbsp;... Richardson throws away just about every opportunity to be subtle in his depiction of the archetypal ménage-a-trois.&nbsp;... As a tale of blindness in several senses, ''Laughter in the Dark'' makes a harsh parable; the film faithfully perpetuates this emphasis, and as faithfully pays due respect to Nabokov's painstaking use of doors as a conscious metaphor. Where it fails is in creating the slightest interest in its trio of repulsive characters – no particular fault of the cast, but Williamson is uselessly young, Karina looks delicious in a mini-skirt but is otherwise a cardboard cut-out with a hideous accent, while Drouot is handsome, blank and instantly forgettable. Nabokov deals with weakness and makes it real, human and tragic. Richardson deals with concupiscence and renders it merely tedious."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1969 |title=Laughter in the Dark |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305824689 |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=36 |issue=420 |pages=188 |id={{ProQuest|1305824689}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref>
*{{Cite book
| last = Walker
| first = Alexander
| title = Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor
| publisher = Grove Press
| year = 1997
| location =
| isbn = 978-0802137692
| url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/elizabeth00walk
}}


== Remake ==
*{{Cite book
A planned 1986 remake by director Laszlo Papas starring [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Rebecca De Mornay]] (later replaced by [[Maryam d'Abo]]) was abandoned.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/adapting-nabokov|title = Nabokov and the Movies|date = 2 January 2015|accessdate = 5 January 2015|magazine = The New Yorker|last = Colapinto|first = John |author-link= John Colapinto }}</ref>
| last = Richardson

| first = Tony
⚫
==References==
| title = Long Distance Runner - A memoir
⚫
{{reflist}}
| publisher = Faber & Faber
| year = 1993
| location = London
| isbn = 0-571-16852-3 }}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0064576|title=Laughter in the Dark}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0064576|title=Laughter in the Dark}}


{{Tony Richardson}}
{{Tony Richardson}}
Line 82: Line 93:
[[Category:1969 drama films]]
[[Category:1969 drama films]]
[[Category:French drama films]]
[[Category:French drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:British drama films]]
[[Category:British drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tony Richardson]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tony Richardson]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Vladimir Nabokov]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Vladimir Nabokov]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Edward Bond]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Edward Bond]]
[[Category:Films produced by Elliott Kastner]]
[[Category:Films produced by Elliott Kastner]]
⚫
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1960s British films]]
[[Category:1960s French films]]
[[Category:English-language French films]]
[[Category:English-language drama films]]

Latest revision as of 20:34, 24 October 2024

Laughter in the Dark
Film poster
Directed byTony Richardson
Screenplay byEdward Bond
Based onLaughter in the Dark
by Vladimir Nabokov
Produced byNeil Hartley
Starring
CinematographyDick Bush
Edited byCharles Rees
Music byRaymond Leppard
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists (UK)
Release date
  • September 1969 (1969-09)
(UK)
Running time
104 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$780,000[1]

Laughter in the Dark (French: La Chambre obscure) is a 1969 romantic drama film directed by Tony Richardson and starring Nicol Williamson, Anna Karina and Jean-Claude Drouot.[2] The screenplay was by Edward Bond. It was based on the 1936 novel Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov, with the setting changed from 1930s Berlin to 1960s Swinging London.

The film drew respectable reviews, but for reasons that are unclear, it was subsequently removed from distribution.[citation needed]

Plot

[edit]

Sir Edward More is a wealthy married 40-year-old art dealer who becomes obsessed with young amoral gold-digging cinema usherette Margot and starts an affair with her. When his wife finds out, she leaves him.

At a party thrown for her by More, Margot meets ex-lover Herve Tourace, and they resume their relationship, deciding to exploit More for money. Margot lies to More that his assistant Brian has been making advances to her, and that she fancies him, and suggests he replaces Brian with Tourace, who she says is gay, so won't be a threat. More acquiesces and employs Tourace.

Margot suggests they holiday abroad. At a seaside resort, More bumps into Brian who also happens to be holidaying there. Margot and Tourace make love in a small boat, observed by Brian's wife, who tells More. Furious, More decides that he and Margot will leave immediately. As he drives at speed along a dangerous mountain road, he swerves to avoid oncoming cyclists, and crashes the car. He is blinded.

Margot finds them a villa, and they move in. Unknown to More, so does Tourace, and Margot and Tourace resume their relationship. More gradually becomes suspicious that there is someone else in the house, and eventually attacks the stranger. At the same time, his ex-wife's brother arrives, who says he has just seen Tourace fleeing the villa. More realises what has been going on. When Margot returns from a day trip, he tries to shoot her. He misses, then stumbles and fatally shoots himself. Margot runs from the villa.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Casting

[edit]

Nicol Williamson was a very late replacement for Richard Burton, who had already shot several scenes. Richardson had found Burton's lack of punctuality intolerable. To recruit Williamson in a hurry, Richardson sent a search party to comb the bars and bistros of the Cote d'Azur.[3][4]

Filming locations

[edit]

The film was shot on location in England and Majorca.

Release

[edit]

Obscurity

[edit]

For unknown reasons, the film was removed from distribution.

It has only been shown twice on British television, in 1974 and 1981 on BBC2,[5] and has not been released on any home media format.

Critical reception

[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Laughter in the Dark proceeds to transcend content with style in a dazzling display of tender cruelty. ... Richardson throws away just about every opportunity to be subtle in his depiction of the archetypal ménage-a-trois. ... As a tale of blindness in several senses, Laughter in the Dark makes a harsh parable; the film faithfully perpetuates this emphasis, and as faithfully pays due respect to Nabokov's painstaking use of doors as a conscious metaphor. Where it fails is in creating the slightest interest in its trio of repulsive characters – no particular fault of the cast, but Williamson is uselessly young, Karina looks delicious in a mini-skirt but is otherwise a cardboard cut-out with a hideous accent, while Drouot is handsome, blank and instantly forgettable. Nabokov deals with weakness and makes it real, human and tragic. Richardson deals with concupiscence and renders it merely tedious."[6]

Remake

[edit]

A planned 1986 remake by director Laszlo Papas starring Mick Jagger and Rebecca De Mornay (later replaced by Maryam d'Abo) was abandoned.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tino Balio, United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry, University of Wisconsin Press, 1987 p. 246
  2. ^ "Laughter in the Dark". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  3. ^ Walker, Alexander (1997). Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor. Grove Press. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-0802137692.
  4. ^ Richardson, Tony (1993). Long Distance Runner – A memoir. London: Faber & Faber. pp. 213–15. ISBN 0-571-16852-3.
  5. ^ "Laughter in the Dark". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Laughter in the Dark". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 36 (420): 188. 1 January 1969. ProQuest 1305824689 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ Colapinto, John (2 January 2015). "Nabokov and the Movies". The New Yorker. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Laughter_in_the_Dark_(film)&oldid=1253200890"