Becky Sharp (film)
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| Becky Sharp | |
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| Directed by | Rouben Mamoulian |
| Produced by | Kenneth Macgowan Rouben Mamoulian |
| Written by | Story: William Makepeace Thackeray Langdon Mitchell Screenplay: Francis Edward Faragoh |
| Starring | Miriam Hopkins Frances Dee Cedric Hardwicke |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Ray Rennahan |
| Editing by | Archie Marshek |
| Distributed by | RKO |
| Release date(s) | June 28, 1935 |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
William Makepeace Thackeray's novel Vanity Fair (1847 - 1848) has been the subject of numerous television and film adaptations. Becky Sharp is an American film released in 1935 and directed by Rouben Mamoulian.[1] It is based on the play of the same name by Langdon Mitchell, which in turn is based on the Thackeray's novel. The screenplay was written by Francis Edward Faragoh.
It tells the story of a lower-class girl who insinuates herself into an upper class family, only to see her life and the lives of those around her destroyed. The ruthless, self-willed and beautiful Becky is one of the most famous characters in English literature.
It stars Miriam Hopkins, Frances Dee, Cedric Hardwicke, Billie Burke, Alison Skipworth, Nigel Bruce and Alan Mowbray.
Lowell Sherman, the original director, developed pneumonia early in filming, and had to leave the production. His replacement, Mamoulian, scrapped all of the original footage and started over.
Becky Sharp was the first feature length film to use the three-strip Technicolor process.
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[edit] Plot
The film tells of social climber Becky Sharp (Miriam Hopkins), an English young lady who manages to survive during the years following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.
In her efforts to advance herself, she manages to link up with a number of gentlemen: the Marquis of Steyne (Cedric Hardwicke), Joseph Sedley (Nigel Bruce), Rawdon Crawley (Alan Mowbray), and George Osborne (G. P. Huntley Jr).
She rises to the top of British society and becomes the the scourge of the social circle, offending the other ladies such as Lady Bareacres (Billie Burke).
Finally, Sharp falls into the humiliation of singing for her meals in a beer hall. But, Becky never stays down for long.
[edit] Cast
- Miriam Hopkins as Becky Sharp
- Frances Dee as Amelia Sedley
- Cedric Hardwicke as Marquis of Steyne
- Billie Burke as Lady Bareacres
- Alison Skipworth as Miss Crawley
- Nigel Bruce as Joseph Sedley
- Alan Mowbray as Rawdon Crawley
- G.P. Huntley as George Osborne
- William Stack as Pitt Crawley
- George Hassell as Sir Pitt Crawley
- William Faversham as Duke of Wellington
- Charles Richman as Gen. Tufto
- Doris Lloyd as Duchess of Richmond
- Colin Tapley as Capt. William Dobbin
- Leonard Mudie as Tarquin
[edit] Awards
Wins
- Venice Film Festival: Best Color Film, Rouben Mamoulian; 1935.
Nominations
- Venice Film Festival: Mussolini Cup, Rouben Mamoulian; 1935.
- Academy Awards: Oscar; Best Actress in a Leading Role, Miriam Hopkins; 1936.
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
- Becky Sharp at Film Reference web site.
- Becky Sharp at Rotten Tomatoes.
