JohnHowardReid Copyright 13 June 1935 by Pioneer Pictures, Inc. Released through RKO-Radio Pictures. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 13 June 1935 (ran two weeks). U.S. release: 28 June 1935. U.K. release: 11 July 1935. Australian release: 18 September 1935. 9 reels. 84 minutes. NOTES: Langdon Mitchell's play opened in New York on 12 September 1899 and ran a moderately successful 116 performances. It was revived no less than three times, the last in 1929. This film version was the first feature to be photographed entirely in three-strip Technicolor. Shooting commenced on 3 December 1934 under the direction of Lowell Sherman, who died on 28 December. Mamoulian took over on 14 January 1935, and re-shot all Sherman's footage. Miriam Hopkins was nominated for the year's most prestigious award for Best Actress, losing to Bette Davis in Dangerous.COMMENT: Just as the play presented a potted version of the novel, so the film presents a potted version of the play. Nonetheless, although it will undoubtedly disappoint fans of Thackeray, it's a mighty entertaining offering. And not just for its often inspired use of color in sets and costumes, its lavish production values, its occasionally imaginative direction and sometimes exceptionally deft film editing. Although she is inclined to over-act her scheming Becky, Miriam Hopkins maintains interest in her characterization. In fact, she dominates the movie to such an extent, the other players-with the notable exception of strong-minded Alison Skipworth-are often put in the shade. Even Sir Cedric Hardwicke gives up the unequal struggle and is content merely to mouth his lines. True, Nigel Bruce and Alan Mowbray seem determined to make the most of their scenes, but their valiant efforts come to little. Only Tempe Pigott manages briefly to share the Hopkins limelight. Billie Burke is hardly in the movie at all, and even the lovely Frances Dee makes little impression. But for all its relentless concentration on the often unsympathetic Becky, the movie, as said, is always enjoyable. Indeed it's one of those rare films that you feel you need to see again.

cbryce59 ...in a very truncated version of "Vanity Fair". Also the quality of the visuals is poor, the new use of color is not great, and it seems more like a filmed play than a movie. None of the male actors are attractive in their roles, and the entire cast seems to be acting on a very hectic level. The pace is too rushed, as though they know they have far too little time to try to tell this sprawling story.But I enjoy costume drama, and it is that.Miriam's Becky is more shrill than charming, making it hard to believe that so many men fell at her feet.Also the wigs are bad.

missrebeckah There is a lot of talk about this film and how it compares to the novel, the Broadway play, it's various remakes, and all the hub-bub over the colour. While all of that is interesting, none of it mattered to me before I watched the film. I had just finished watching Myrna Loy as Becky Sharp in the 1932 Vanity Fair, so I was familiar with the story and eager to see this film.This Becky Sharp is an amazing character. Where so much is implied and quieted down with the Myrna Loy version, Miriam Hopkins is brash, loud and daring. She openly insults people and royalty call her "fascinating" for it. She rides higher and higher, with it all culminating one night at a Royal banquet. The battle of Waterloo breaks out and in that moment her world crashes as well.Sometimes I really enjoy watching movies about people living by their wits and using people. At least Becky is beautiful and vivacious. She enlivens many mens' lives and she should be getting something in return for that. Besides scorn, which she got anyway from the ladies. Many people seem to forget how times were so different in the past and the only way a woman had to get ahead in the world was to play the game and "marry up". No one enjoys poverty, so it was natural for a woman to go after as much as she could. Keep in mind that the men encouraged this behavior in women as well. For if it didn't work, women wouldn't have behaved that way. This movie also hints at the hostility between the classes and just how difficult it is to rise above one's station. But Becky gets it very clearly, which is probably why she can work the system so well. Society is shallow and built on appearances. Behind closed doors it's a different world.I enjoyed the film, the characters, the outfits were awesome and I also liked that the film began and ended with Becky throwing a book at someone. That means something. ;) Read more of my reviews of public domain films at: http://pdmoviereview.blogspot.com/

Rich Drezen (Drezzilla) Miriam Hopkins delivers a great performance as a nonchalant woman who cheats her way through society before finding out that what goes around comes around, and of course she must find a way to redeem herself. The color in this film looks a lot better than most people of the day describes it as. And I think the guy who said the color looked like "boiled salmon dipped in mayonese" has had a little too much mayonese. Altogether, I highly recommend this film for anyone who can't seem to find a good movie to watch, because this is the one!