There are certain films you go to see because you feel sure you are going to enjoy them. EAST OF EDEN had a director I greatly admire, a cast of significance, literary credentials (although I have never read the book so my comments must be based solely on the film as seen), and yet... I found the end result vaguely unsatisfactory. Mainly I think because as presented via the screenplay, I found the story somewhat thin. Many potentially interesting situations were hinted at and never followed through; Aaron's reluctance to support the jingoism of the USA's involvement in WW1 - why was this? Pacifism? Cowardice? The bravery of being a dissenting voice in a sea of hysteria? A parallel with the Biblical Abel's refusal to make animal sacrifices as Cain did? The Mexican girl with whom Cal appeared to have some sort of relationship was marginalised into almost total insignificance. The film also cried out for a more Mahleresque musical score from someone of the calibre of Alex North or Kenyon Hopkins to emphasise and intensify the strong emotions which from time to time had to surface. Technical credits were all first rate. Acting uniformly superb (it is worth noting that it was Julie Harris' name that was at the top of the credits), and yet it didn't give me goosebumps. And it should have. Compared to films like A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING, THE FUGITIVE KIND or even, BABY DOLL, this film seemed desperately striving to deliver a powerful emotional punch but for me at least, it didn't cut the mustard as it should have done.
Review of East of Eden
