The Fox (Mark Rydell, 1967)

[Taketori Washizu]

Anyone know who owns the rights to this film and why it still hasn't been available in the U.S.? A DVD would be appreciated. I was reading Ebert's four star review and it piqued my interest. Sandy Dennis and Keir Dullea! Dullea rarely got lead roles. He should be known for more than just Dave Bowman.

[Taketori Washizu]

I guess no one has anything to say about it? Must validate its obscurity.

[Dylan]

I knew I had heard of this before, and the poster looks familiar (though it also reminds me of the "Whiter Shade of Pale" album). I just looked it up on the IMDB; much of its crew went on to do other films, including cinematographer William Fraker, composer Lalo Schifrin ("The Fox" score was nominated for an Oscar), and director Mark Rydell. It also won the "Best English-language foreign film" Golden Globe (they don't give that out anymore do they?).

Somebody on an IMDB board wrote:

You can find the film on Ebay from time to time, but it's usually $20 or so once bidding is complete, and it's VHS.

None are on auction at the moment. Another person wrote that they've seen it and it is 'a masterpiece,' but they didn't say too much else.

It sounds interesting, and I have a hard time believing that nobody here has seen it, but maybe it's really that obscure. I think Jack Cardiff's 1960 film of "Sons and Lovers" is great, and it's also been out of circulation for years (though I saw it widescreen on Fox Movie Channel a few years ago, and it's on R2 DVD now), so I'm not sure what it is with getting these Lawrence adaptations out there...this one is particularly obscure.

[kinjitsu]

I guess I'm obliged to post on this as I'm obviously the only member old enough to have seen it.

Not!

After the Fox!

[Taketori Washizu]

David,

Damnit, you didn't have to divulge that much! I would like to see it regardless because I will see Sandy Dennis in anything and Keir Dullea in a leading role is a rarity.

[kinjitsu]

David,

Damnit, you didn't have to divulge that much! I would like to see it regardless because I will see Sandy Dennis in anything and Keir Dullea in a leading role is a rarity.

What's so hot about Sandy Dennis?

[Taketori Washizu]

Attractive? Not my type. I find her neurotic, quirky quality fascinating, especially when put to great use in say Altman's Come Back to the Five & Dime. I was just stating that David should have included *spoilers* if he was going to leak vital plot information. I would rather see the film first and judge it accordingly.

My main question still hasn't been answered. Who owns the distribution rights and what has kept the film from never having a home video or DVD release, ever?

[Lino]

Taketori, part of the film is available on DVD! That is, if you can content yourself with just the trailer...

[Dylan]

TCM showed a reportedly very good-looking print of Mark Rydell's film of The Fox on June 27. I think it sounds very strange and interesting.

From TCM's website:

[quote]For whatever reason, Sandy Dennis had a way of being around when Hollywood fell into moral-panic mode during the 1960s, as Production Code censorship broke down and the new MPAA ratings system was born. She was in the adaptation of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that sparked earnest discussions in 1966 between Warner Bros. and the MPAA, which was edgy about the cinematic debuts of the word “screwâ€

[Person]

I'd love to finally see this movie, as it has intrigued me for years.

[Barmy]

Looks like a good flick. Any bootleg sources?

[Dylan]

Looks like a good flick. Any bootleg sources?

A DVD-R (I'm assuming a direct port of the TCM broadcast since its quality is rated high and the print is listed as being letterboxed) is available from ioffer.

[Barmy]

Many thanks. I ordered it.

[Dylan]

Barmy, how was it? I've since heard Lalo Schifrin's score, which is very good.

[Dylan]

bump (see above post)

[Barmy]

Ignore david hare's militant rant. This is a good film (though no masterpiece). The print used by TCM is in excellent shape.

The relationship between the 2 women is implicitly, but not explicitly, Lesbianic. And anyway, there is nothing inherently homophobic about a woman leaving a woman for a man. But admittedly this is yet another one of Sandy Dennis' "hey I'm a mouse and no one will ever love me" roles.

The cinematography is beautiful. Lots of scenes in firelit rooms. Dullea in particular is bathed frequently in a golden glow. The Oscar-nominated score is good.

The story line is hardly genius. I'm not sure exactly what Lawrence was trying to say with this. I'm a Lawrence fan but have to admit that he seems very dated now. But for me that's part of his appeal.

Anyway, if you have any interest in Lawrence, Dennis or Dullea, I would definitely recommend this.

[Barmy]

The non-Sandy Dennis chick is frontally (kind of) nude, in a solo scene. I doubt Sandy Dennis has ever been nude.

It's a good flick, very high quality, like so many films made during the Golden Age of cinema (1967-1976). But there were hundreds of better films made during that era.

[Dylan]

Barmy, thanks for your thoughts, it really does sound fascinating and I've grown to love the music since I first heard it. Also good to hear that the DVDR from ioffer is of high quality. Whenever I have a chance to see this I'll post my thoughts.

[tavernier]

Barmy, thanks for your thoughts

Is that the first time that's ever been posted here?