The Sound and the Fury

OK...this is one of the WORST adaptations of all time. For those who say "it's BETTER than the original novel"...are you MAD!!! Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" is one the the greatest American novels ever written (just because it can't be read by someone with a 5th grade education doesn't mean it isn't any good). The only thing this film has in common with the novel is the title and the names of the characters. Overall...it it dreadful, and fans of the novel are encouraged to stay away from it. Oh...and who's brilliant idea was it to cast Yul Brenner as Jason. UGH!

As a fan of William Faulkner in general, and of the NOVEL The Sound and the Fury in particular, I couldn't quite stomach this film for more than a few minutes at a time. Jason Compson is one of the best characters in literature, and to watch Yul Bryner butcher him on film was not amusing.

Yul Brynner is at his best! His commanding presence is spellbinding. His acting, superb as the appointed Guardian of Joanne Woodward who gives a great performance as his rebellious and attractive ward. The cast is believable, full of unusual characters that are typical of Tenessee Williams' survivors of the grandeur of the Old South, now long gone. The tension that builds between the Guardian (Yul Brynner) and his ward (Joanne Woodward) is entertaining and exciting to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and recommend it highly to anyone who would enjoy taking a look into the present day remnants of the Old South. Four stars!!!

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.

I'm watching "S&F" on Turner tonight (8/16/11), & I don't recognize anything from the classic novel. I had seen the ending a long time ago, with Yul (Jason) & Quentin(!!!??) (Joanne) sauntering down a southern road, musing optimistically--& I thought the same then. I vaguely recall reading something that Martin Ritt wanted to help out Faulkner ($$) by adapting his early masterpiece, & I guess this was the result: absolute garbage. Even with zilch familiarity with the novel, the film "adaptation" is just a baffling mishmash; with __any__ familiarity with the novel, the film is an abomination. Thanks to Turner & anybody else who would snooze their audience to sleep, I guess we can say with a sigh of such adaptations, like Dilsey, "they endured."