Sunday, July 07, 2019

Dvd/150: LILITH (Robert Rossen, 1964)

Hugely under-rated, Robert Rossen's last film was also the peak in Jean Seberg's career.


Rossen's dream-like film was an unhappy experience for all due to Warren Beatty's antagonistic behaviour towards Rossen; ironically, his blank performance is the worst thing in it, Jean's is all the more exciting given his anonymity.


Vincent is an aimless ex-GI who becomes an occupational therapist at a private asylum for wealthy patients in Maryland.  While there, he becomes obsessed with Lilith, a young reclusive schizophrenic.


Lilith's sensuality disturbs both male and female patients and Vincent's jealousy has catastrophic effects for all...


Kim Hunter's head doctor and Peter Fonda as a besotted fellow-patient shine and a heartbreaking scene where Vincent visits ex-girlfriend Jessica Walter and her crass husband Gene Hackman is also wonderfully played.


But it's Jean's child-like yet destructive Lilith who haunts the mind in her finest screen performance.


Shelf or charity shop?  Jean's Golden Globe-nominated performance deserves a place on any shelf...


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