Becky Sharp (1935) Review ,Miriam Hopkins dazzles in this astoundingly written movie

I had this Mill Creek Family set for years today I chanced upon seeing this gem of a movie.Last few months I had seen generally boring movies that are totally uninteresting and bland.Visiting this wondrous movie was a welcome change.Also its the first movie in 3 strip Technicolor and Miriam Hopkins was nominated for Best Actress Oscar.

Miriam Hopkins is absolutely wonderful here.Her dialogues are full of wit,humour and liveliness her expressions equally engrossing and most of the time full of mischief and fun.She is not touched by hypocrisy of the world surrounding her and lives life on her own terms even if it is to hoodwink people or to be very clever in her dealings with them.

Elspeth Dudgeon plays Miss Pinkerton who takes in Miriam in her school only to save money as she teaches French and dancing for free.In her very cheerful jovial way with mocking expressions which seem so modern Miriam points that to her when Miss Pinkerton gives her a dictionary as a parting gift asking her to be grateful to her saying how she saved so much money for her. And while she is leaving she throws away the dictionary at Miss Pinkerton.

Nigel Bruce plays Joseph Sedley and reminds me of an Indian character actor who looked very much like him and even his voice was the same.Don't know his name but he was a common face in 1970's.

She takes up governess job at a place where the Maid says to Old Lady "She is on dark amorous errand".Then they bring her suitcase and search through it.Becky (Miriam Hopkins) come in finding the Old Lady of the house looking at a locket with her mother's picture in it which stated she was a dancer.Becky throws a big tantrum is very melodramatic howling and crying and bawling saying her Mother was a rich French Heiress whose wealth was taken away from her and she was exiled by Revolutionaries,that she danced only to clothe her to shelter her.She leaves them in tears,and as she closes the door she waits at the door listening to their tearful reactions smiling from ear to ear at her brilliant performance inside.Also references to India are numerous.

Movie is filled with her adventures and escapades and script is so well written her dialogues are sharp and full of direct wit.A movie that you enjoy every time you see it.Hope we would have a good subtitled version one day.

Quotes "Royal heads have been known to hop away from their bodies especially in France" "I was so sorry to hear about your mother's misfortune,I do hope the operation was successful,To think of her going blind at her age and now she can't recognize her acquaintances,these are glass you are wearing,I hope they would continue to attract men."