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Desire Under the Elms (1958)

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Movie Info

Director Delbert Mann and screenwriter Irwin Shaw adapt Eugene O'Neill's 20th-century version of a Greek tragedy to the screen with a bit more discretion than need be. The story takes place in the New England of the 1840s. Emotionally cool but passionately hot farmer Burl Ives the smoldering Sophia Loren as his third wife. Anthony Perkins arrives to ignite this powder keg of pent-up lust, with Perkins and Loren engaging in a semi-incestuous love affair. When Loren becomes pregnant, Ives thinks

Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.

Drama, Classics

Irwin Shaw

Aug 31, 2004

Cast

All Critics (4) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (1) | DVD (5)

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Audience Reviews for Desire Under the Elms

Overwrought is too mild a word for this lulu of a gothic melodrama. Of course being a Eugene O'Neill story the epic tragedy is no surprise but it is turned out in purple prose and declamatory acting. Sophia looks beautiful and is full of ripe sensuality. Burl Ives is made up to look older than his years but just looks

June 7, 2011
jjnxn
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

Perkins gives a great performance in this movie of forbidden love, the story is really dramatic, suspenseful, and surprising. I really liked it.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

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