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Priest of Love
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Wikipedia article
'Priest of Love' is a British biographical film about D. H. Lawrence and his wife Frieda (ne Von Richthofen) played by Ian McKellen and Janet Suzman. It was a Stanley J. Seeger presentation, produced and directed by Christopher Miles and co-produced by Andrew Donally. The screenplay was by Alan Plater from the biography 'The Priest of Love' by Harry T. Moore. The music score was by Francis James Brown and Stanley J. Seeger, credited jointly as "Joseph James".
The film was first released by Filmways in New York on 11 October 1981 and then by Enterprise Pictures Ltd in London with a Royal Premiere on 18 February 1982.Daily News NYC (8.7.1981)The Times (19.2.82)
The film was then re-cut in 1985 by the director for the centenary of D.H.Lawrences birth, and was re-released in cinemas by Enterprise Pictures to greater commercial and critical success. All copies of the 1981 original version were legally withdrawn and are no longer available. The world rights are now owned by Milesian Lion and distributed by Screenbound International Pictures.Letters by Simkins LLP between Milesian Film Productions and
Christopher Cone 30.1019: Between MFPL and the BFI National Archive(9.1.91)
This 1985 Centenary Version was then re-mastered in 2011 for a new DVD release in the United States (Kino International standard DVD and Blu-ray) and in the UK (Odeon Entertainment standard DVD, 2012). The extras on both DVDs include interviews with Ian McKellen and Christopher Miles, and Penelope Keith narrates "The way we got it together" on the making of the film.
Plot
At the start of the Great War in 1914, Lawrence and his new wife Frieda are living a bohemian life in rural Cornwall. There is great hostility towards Frieda because she is a German, and Lawrence feels persecuted by the authorities, who claim his books are obscene. A year later on 13 November 1915, 1,011 copies of his book 'The Rainbow' were seized for obscenity by the censor Herbert G. Muskett and burnt in front of the Royal Exchange in the city of London.
At the invitation of Mabel Dodge Luhan, an American art patroness, Lawrence and Frieda accompanied by their loyal friend the Hon. Dorothy Brett leave for New Mexico. Here Lawrence reluctantly accepts an old ranch from Mabel in exchange for the manuscript of 'Sons and Lovers', while Brett continues with her painting and typing out Lawrences novels. Although Frieda is from an old German aristocratic family, and has left her husband and children behind in England in order to elope with Lawrence, she firmly believes she is the right woman for the man she considers a literary giant. But at that time Lawrence told her There will be no fear, but there will be pain.
Always looking for new material, the Lawrences and Brett head further south to Oaxaca in Mexico, where even his fascination for the ancient Mayan Dark Gods cannot hide his health problems any more from Frieda, who insists on taking him to Mexico city to see a good doctor. The prognosis is bad: he has tuberculosis and is given a year or two at the most. Frieda crumbles at this terrible news, and they return to England.
Back in his native Nottingham, Lawrence and Frieda revisit the places of his childhood which had so influenced his early writing - Twenty-eight books and still no peace... This restless search for peace and inspiration...and for the sun which might ease his tuberculosis, drives them to take up their travels once more and return to Italy.
The couple move to Tuscany where they rent the top floors of an old villa, and Lawrence, who has been suffering from a long and tormented fallow period as a writer, finds inspiration once more. He starts to write again what is to become his most controversial novel Lady Chatterleys Lover. The description of a womans feelings are based on Friedas - Since I met you, every woman Ive written about has been you he tells her. It is to become his final period of great creativity, and in between writing he also finds time to paint using the canvasses Aldous and Maria Huxley left behind.
Lawrence finds an Italian printer for 'Lady Chattersley's Lover' who lives nearby in Florence and, predictably when the finished book arrives in London, it is considered obscene, and is banned by the authorities.
An exhibition of Lawrences paintings is later mounted in a London gallery, and Frieda travels to England "to protect them" as she explains to Lawrence. The exhibition draws huge crowds, but Lawrences old nemesis Herbert G Muskett, the public censor who has been responsible for the banning and burning of so much of his works, steps in and has the gallery raided by the police. Frieda telegraphs the news to Lawrence, who suffers a debilitating fit of coughing and is moved to a sanitarium near Nice.
On Friedas return to France, she is upset to find him so weak. He begs her to move him from the sanitarium and "find a house". This she does, along with friends and family who nurse him in his final days. As the end approaches, it is Frieda who urges Lawrence to let go, and find in death the peace which so eluded him in life.Plot synopsis by JAC for 1985 centenary version.
Cast
* Ian McKellen as D.H. Lawrence
* Janet Suzman as Frieda Lawrence
* Penelope Keith as Dorothy Brett
* Ava Gardner as Mabel Dodge Luhan
* Jorge Rivero as Tony Luhan
* John Gielgud as Herbert G. Muskett
* Maurizio Merli as Angelo Ravagli
* James Faulkner as Aldous Huxley
* Mike Gwilym as John Middleton Murry
* Massimo Ranieri as Piero Pini
* Elio Pandolfi as Giuseppe Orioli
* Adrienne Burgess as Katherine Mansfield
* Jane Booker as Frieda's daughter Barbara Weekley Barr
* Julian Fellowes as Barbara Weekley Barr's fianc
* Patrick Holt as Arthur Lawrence
* Niall Padden as British Soldier
* Andrew McCulloch as British Sergeant
* Adrienne Burgess as Katherine Mansfield
* Gareth Forwood as Photographer on Aquitania
* Andrew Lodge as British Officer
* Daniel Chatto as Aquitania Officer
* John Hudson as Clerk to Herbert G. Muskett
* Elizabeth Spender as Elsa Weekley
* Shane Rimmer as Chief Immigration Officer
* Burnell Tucker as Earl Brewster
Production
In 1972, Christopher Miles wanted to make a biographical film about a writer who wouldn't compromise, D.H.Lawrence, and met the writers agent, Laurence Pollinger, who was then still alive. However, in order to quote from the writers many novels, poems and letters in the film, Pollingers huge asking price was more Lawrence of Arabia than Lawrence of Nottingham so Miles dropped the idea.The Times. John Preston interviews the director (19.11.81)
Five years later, Pollingers son Gerald, contacted Miles asking if he was still interested and suggested a meeting with Professor Harry Moore to discuss his biography 'The Priest of Love', this time more reasonable deals were discussed, and Miles commissioned a screenplay from Alan Plater, whom he had worked with on 'The Virgin and the Gypsy'.The Times. John Preston interviews the director (19.11.81)Daily Record (Baltimore).Significant Epitaph for D.H.Lawrence (30.10.81)
Casting and finance were the next hurdles, Miles had always wanted Suzman for Frieda Lawrence, as she represented for him the life force of the woman behind the great man 'Los Angeles Times'. Calendar. Frieda Lawrence a personal memoir (8.11.81) but the casting of Lawrence was more problematic. The first financier, a German film investor and producer, wanted other actors for the two main roles, but Miles disagreed. Although McKellens film career had been minimal up to then, Miles went to see him in a play, and was convinced he'd make a good Lawrence. The big US studios were unwilling to proceed, as were any of the UK producers. In the meantime a couple of friends whom Miles had approached for a musical theme for the film, asked about progress.'The Times'. John Preston interviews the director (19.11.81)
Hearing it was going badly, one of the composers, Stanley Seeger, asked Miles to see his solicitor and discuss the project. From that moment, Miles was able to cast the film as he wished, as Seeger had just come into an oil inheritance and decided to finance the production. Miles felt that McKellen not only had the talent and looks, but the vibrant irascible humour of Lawrence, and delightedly he accepted this leading role,New York, William Wolf 'Twixt stage and screen' (16.11.81) which was followed by Ava Gardener accepting the role of Mabel Dodge Luhan, the wealthy art patroness. Miles decided from then on to cast actors who resembled the real people in the script, as there were too many portraits and photographs of the main protagonists and their friends to ignore the publics expectations. So he was glad Penelope Keith accepted to play the Hon. Dorothy Brett, and John Gielgud, who had worked with Miles previously, to play Herbert G. Muskett, the formidable British censor, who loathed Lawrence and all he stood for.Odeon Entertainment. Christopher Miles interview. DVD 2012
Through his Italian co-producers, Miles also found good look-a-like Italian actors for Angelo Ravagli and the local game-keeper, who resembled the portrait Lawrence painted of him later, and whilst in Italy, Miles was amazed to see how little the Villa Mirenda, near Florence, had changed since Lawrences day. During the shooting, an old retainer at the villa cried out Lorenzo! on seeing McKellen, who felt as if he had been applauded. Both he and Suzman said that filming in the place where 'Lady Chatterleys Lover' was actually written gave a frisson lacking on a film set. The superb location also helped inspire the director and crew.New York Post. "Ian McKellen looks like the real thing" (13.10.81)
Other locations where the Lawrences lived were found in Cornwall, London, Nottingham, France, New and old Mexico and their beloved Italy. Some interiors were filmed at Shepperton Studios for a total ten week shoot, which came in on schedule and on budget.Whats On (London). Another Look at Lawrence. Phillip Bergson (8.11.85)
1985 Re-release
The two main reasons for re-cutting were that Miles and Seeger were soon aware that although the film had gone down fairly well, however at 125 minutes it needed shortening, and there were also complaints about the Shepperton sound-track, which needed re- mixing.New York Post Archer Winsten - D.H.Lawrence in the flesh (12.11.81)
The fact that scenes in the film actually happened in reality, such as Lawrence meeting a film star on his boat to Capri, or the Zapotec prophesies on his health at the temple of Mitla, are interesting, but their inclusion destroyed the films emotional narrative drive. The same often applied to flashbacks, which were changed to their correct chronological order.Odeon Entertainment. Christopher Miles interview. DVD 2012
The soundtrack was re-mixed by Dean Humphreys, and the film restoration supervised by John Pegg.Odeon Entertainment. Christopher Miles interview. DVD 2012The Times (19.2.82)
The present - and now only - cut of 98 minutes has gone down better, and as Miles told Phillip Bergson in a Whats On Cinema Interview: It was good to come back to the film after the dust had settled and re-edit this version for Lawrences centenary. I put back a couple of scenes, and tightened others. I reckon we should all leave a film for a while and look at it afresh later... if we can.Whats On (London). Another Look at Lawrence. Phillip Bergson (8.11.85)
1985 Critical reception
Dilys Powell, film critic of 'The Sunday Times', was a defence witness for Penguin in 'R v Penguin Books Ltd.' (the "Lady Chatterley" trial) in 1960. She wrote this review for 'Punch' on seeing the film a second time: With astonished delight one finds, watching a film which when seen four years ago seemed indeed reputable, but not really equal to its subject, that now shows itself a work of deep understanding and devotion... directed by Christopher Miles, the film has been re-shaped since its first appearance. There are small additions but it is the cutting which has effected the transformation. 'Priest of Love' now concentrates on Lawrences life with his wife (played by Janet Suzman with a strength not as clear in 1982)... and the writer played by Ian McKellen is a figure at once powerful and heart-rending - he loves, hates, jokes and works. Mr Miles had the persistence to find even the Italian villa where they lived. The landscapes are suffused with light and life...and the people are beautifully alive Ava Gardner (Mabel Dodge Luhan) Penelope Keith (Brett) and John Gielgud... the film leads up to the publication of 'Lady Chatterleys Lover' a book of heroic quality , but probably the least successful of his novels... the errors of genius are in the bones of genius. If one is an admirer, one must accept them. Mr Miless film rightly urges one to thankfully accept 'Lady Chatterleys Lover'".Punch. Dilys Powell. Second Time of Asking (13.11.85)
'The Daily Telegraph' wrote: Can a film, only slightly faulted, be redeemed by re-editing?... it certainly has happened now... with some new material by Mr Miles to give a shorter, sharper, more chronological account... as a result the emphasis falls strongly on the relations between Frieda and Lawrence, so illustrating what he tried to convey in his major worksDaily Telegraph. Patrick Gibbs (8.11.85) and 'The Times' thought the film was Honourable and absorbing, with vivid, rounded, warty characterisations of Lawrence and Frieda by Ian McKellen and Janet Suzman, and creditable support by Ava Gardner, John Gielgud and Penelope Keith".The Times. David Robinson (8.11.85)
'DVD Savant' review thought that Priest of Love deserves a major re-evaluation about the last years of "notorious author D.H.Lawrence and is a welcome surprise, an intelligent and engaging look at the writer... Ian McKellen gives one of the best portrayals of a writer Ive seen, while Janet Suzman is riveting as his courageous wife. Christopher Miles has a firm handle on all aspects of the production...without turning it into a travelogue. Alan Platers fine screenplay presents Lawrence as a temperamental man with little patience for conventional people, even the eccentric Mabel Luhan (One of the few Ava Gardner late-career roles that are worth seeing)... The film does not exploit its subject, a major cultural sensation of the 1920s. Kino International new Blu-ray makes the 30 year old picture look brand new.DVD Talk (DVD Savant Review). Kino International Blu-ray (30.9.2012)
Peter Martin of 'Twitch' reviewed: "It feels like being tossed into the deep end of a mans soul, but McKellen proves to be a solid anchor and has made a smooth transition to a leading role in this film. Hes matched in his fiery nature by his wife Frieda (Janet Suzman). Its rare nowadays to see two middle-aged people portrayed as a loving couple on the big screen. Director Miles does not shy away from the carnal component of their relationship...but it never strays into exploitation territory. The Blu-ray from Kino International looks absolutely impeccable. Miles conducts a relaxed informal interview with McKellen filled with fond remembrances and even telling the director which scenes he didnt like in the finished film, and why. Priest of Love paints an intriguing portrait of an artist who was under appreciated in his time.Twitch (Blu-ray review). Peter Martin (24.02,2012)
References
Further reading
* Unenthusiastic review of the initial release.
* [http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s3563love.html DVD Talk]
* [http://twitchfilm.com/2011/07/priest-of-love-blu-ray-review.html Twitch Film]
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