Desire Under the Elms

A travesty, based on the great Eugene O'Neill play. The only things that give this a second star are a pretty good performance by Anthony Perkins, the eye candy of watching a half-clad Sophia Loren, and the unintentional humor of some hot lovin' between the porcine Burl Ives and the svelte and sultry Loren.

I can remember seeing this film when I was a teenager and I never forgot it. I think it is one of Tony Perkins' best acting parts. This DVD is a sharp black and white copy and is first rate. The musical score and sound is perfect. Robert Moon

It is the 1850s in a rocky New England farm that is home to the despotic owner, Ephraim Cabot (Burl Ives) and his resentful son Eben (Anthony Perkins). At 25, Eben is only staying on the farm because he expects to inherit the land, even though his greedy and cruel father swears that will never happen. The old man goes off and marries Anna (Sophia Loren), a seductive woman of Eben's age. She is repulsed by her husband, but desperately wants the farm, so there is immediate friction between Anna and her new stepson. Hatred soon turns to lust, however, and the two make good use of the hay loft. Anna gives birth to a son and Ephraim declares that the farm will be his alone one day, a decision that leads to a shocking act. Eugene O'Neill's classic tragedy makes just an OK transition to the screen, despite the talented cast, literate script, and dramatic score by Elmer Bernstein. Something is missing; one never feels any passion or joy or urgency between Eben and Anna; in fact, they... Read more

I think this is one of the best Sophia Loren movies I've ever seen. It is very dark and disturbing. The cast is great, Anthony Perkins (Psycho) Sophia, Burl Ives. When it first came out I think people were a little put off that Sophia Loren, considered more of a Pin-Up was given the role of Mrs Cabot (not originally written as a foriegner). She does outstanding though and both her and Perkins play well together. They fight over the farm, here are some quotes: "Say it Eban! Everything here is mine and some day I'll take it!" - "Your Farm! You mean MY FARM!" There is good support cast too. "So this is our new Ma huh?(refering to Sophia Loren) Why don't you put her in the pen with the other sows?" The don't make movies like this anymore - Classic! Get it now while you can! The Transfer is very good. Its not perfect but as far I'm conserned it is a perfect release for this era of picture. Good clear picture (B&W;,mono ect) and you can hear it fine. Not much for extra feat... Read more

Burl Ives plays Ephraim Cabot a greedy miser of a man who has managed to estrange his sons Peter (Pernell Roberts), Simeon (Frank Overton) but most especially Eben (Anthony Perkins) who wears bitterness like an oversized suit. When Ephraim brings home a new, young step-mother for the boys and wife, Anna (Sophia Loren) causes rivalries to begin anew between the brothers, their father but most especially Anna. It seems Ephraim has made the decision to leave the farm Anna when he dies. Eben confronts Anna but their confrontation erupts into passion as the two sleep together. Eugene O'Neill occupies the same place in American Literature as a playwright as, say, Sophocles did for the Greeks. While Sophocles told of great and heroic characters who fall from grace with the gods, O'Neill focuses on anyone from the average American to the celebrity (I suppose in our screwed up world that's what passes for a "heroic" figure now). O'Neill's best plays ("The Iceman Cometh" and "Long Day's Journ... Read more

Loren, Perkins, and company reduce one of the American Theatre's masterworks to overwrought trivia in this lifeless adaptation of the Eugene O'Neil classic. Given the obvious talent of the cast, one expects considerably more--and although the basic story of a wife who betrays her much older husband with her step-son remains more or less intact, the film version entirely misses the spirit of the original. Those who have not seen nor read the original may find the film entertaining as soap-opera; those familiar with the original, however, will be outraged.