A naive young man, sent down from university, blunders through a series of bizarre adventures in which his participation is always innocent, although others don't think so.A naive young man, sent down from university, blunders through a series of bizarre adventures in which his participation is always innocent, although others don't think so.A naive young man, sent down from university, blunders through a series of bizarre adventures in which his participation is always innocent, although others don't think so.
Geneviève Page
- Margot Beste-Chetwynde
- (as Genevieve Page)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaEvelyn Waugh's original novel is simply called "Decline And Fall". It was reported at the time, in all seriousness, that the title had been altered for this film in case people thought it was some sort of Roman historical epic.
- Crazy creditsActor John Trenaman is credited as 'John Trenaman' in opening title, as 'John Treneman' in ending title.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Brewster McCloud (1970)
- SoundtracksMen of Harlech
(uncredited)
Traditional
Featured review
Extraordinary attempt at adapting Waugh
When choosing to adapt this film, why would you throw away many of the gifts (easy wins, five-yard tap-ins, call them what you will) that Waugh's novel offers the film-maker? The dialogue sparkles on the page, and the set pieces come thick and fast, but the film misses much of the good stuff out, particularly early on in the action, or simply botches it. Waugh's characters also offer plenty of scope for effective adaptation to the screen, but the film makes a rather mushy attempt at most of the character portrayals too, despite the efforts of a strong cast.
Waugh's biting humour is dulled and debased from the start, reaching almost "Carry on"-like levels of simplicity. Paul is spuriously turned into a birdwatcher for about four seconds at the start of the action for the purpose of making smutty hints at a sex comedy that the film doesn't deliver (see also the publicity posters). The potential for sexual transgression that shimmers under the surface of Waugh's writing is also botched; the film spells it out rather demurely (this was the 1960s, when censorship was still very strict), while aiming desperately for superficial titillation.
There are so many simply baffling choices in terms of character and action that it's hard to know where to start. That's not to say a film can't be successful if it doesn't stick close to the source - of course it can, but it has to add something new or interesting or unusual, or stand on its own two feet as a piece of art. This extraordinary effort does none of these things.
The film is almost rescued by some of the settings (but not the ludicrous prison, with its gurning, overacting warders), by the luminous Genevieve Page, and by the occasional neat touch. But surely it's time for somebody like Stephen Fry to show (again) how a Waugh adaptation should be done? A film to watch for Waugh completists only,I'm afraid. Just shield your eyes from the worst of the butchery.
Waugh's biting humour is dulled and debased from the start, reaching almost "Carry on"-like levels of simplicity. Paul is spuriously turned into a birdwatcher for about four seconds at the start of the action for the purpose of making smutty hints at a sex comedy that the film doesn't deliver (see also the publicity posters). The potential for sexual transgression that shimmers under the surface of Waugh's writing is also botched; the film spells it out rather demurely (this was the 1960s, when censorship was still very strict), while aiming desperately for superficial titillation.
There are so many simply baffling choices in terms of character and action that it's hard to know where to start. That's not to say a film can't be successful if it doesn't stick close to the source - of course it can, but it has to add something new or interesting or unusual, or stand on its own two feet as a piece of art. This extraordinary effort does none of these things.
The film is almost rescued by some of the settings (but not the ludicrous prison, with its gurning, overacting warders), by the luminous Genevieve Page, and by the occasional neat touch. But surely it's time for somebody like Stephen Fry to show (again) how a Waugh adaptation should be done? A film to watch for Waugh completists only,I'm afraid. Just shield your eyes from the worst of the butchery.
helpful•13
- paperbackboy
- May 28, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Düşüş
- Filming locations
- St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, Euston Road, London, Greater London, England, UK(interior, as Llanabba Castle)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 53 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher (1968) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer