Don't be fooled by the 2004 DVD release date. This movie was made in the 1960s and has primitive film coloring and a horrid sound track that grates.
The acting is competent though not inspired, which earns the movie two stars rather than one, and there were a few interesting and entertaining devices. One can imagine how daring this must have been for the period in which it was released. The plot, which is most unusual, earns some credit by its originality, at least among movies, if not books.
However, overall the film takes a sordid, bleak and depressing view of the subject matter, which is typical of older films. The politician is portrayed as snobbish, cold, controlling, humorless and unlikable. The youth, who is supposed to be sixteen, can't be a day younger than thirty. The courtship (mentioned above in the movie description) does not exist, as the young man is simply plucked out of a classroom with no explanation. The movie description would have you believe this film is somehow deeper, sensitive or more intelligent than it actually is.
At best, this film is a crude rip-off of "Dorian Gray". At worst, it's an indulgence of the grossest stereotypes from yesteryear.
This was probably judged a fair film for the genre back when it was one of a very few, but nowadays there are so many other, better films available, that I cannot imagine any reason for bothering with this one, other than nostalgia, which probably is the excuse for the positive reviews you read here. |
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