ramblinjack1
From her stark novel of loneliness, "Rapture In My Rags" by PHILLIS HASTINGS.Patricia Gozzi, giving a 'bravura' performance that is nothing short of amazing, plays 15 year old disturbed Agnes (Fr. pronunciation: 'Anya'), a child-like waif who lives with her widowed Father in a ancient château on the jagged coastline of Brittany, France in conditions that are outwardly normal but with more psychological twists than a Freudian barber pole!Melvyn Douglas plays an ex-judge with what he seemingly believes is the key to the ageless paradox, "justice vs crime: egalitarian or barbarous?" His long suffering writings on his revelations are hamstrung by his quilt-ridden widower hood which continually stands between either world-fame or solitary madness.Agnes' latest trifle is to create a homemade scarecrow that gives her more succor than any human ever could. Suddenly, as a bolt from the sky, an escaped fugitive appears, (Dean Stockwell) who is befriended by the family. Guilt and innocence become more confusing than a Fallujah road-map!Recently previewing this Tour-De-Force again I am truly amazed why this Masterpiece isn't considered one of the greatest of it's time period. Although admittedly I haven't read the book, from which it is adapted, this film must certainly be considered a brilliant interpretation of a totally original story.
Maliejandra Kay
Rapture is a difficult film to explain. Many people will describe it in terms of themes, but those who have seen it can tell that there are many different themes. The story concerns a girl named Agnes (Patricia Gozzi) who acts slightly insane because of her difficulty to grow from a child into an adult. She lives with her distant father (Melvyn Douglas) and housekeeper Karen (Gunnel Lindblom) who do little to understand her. Agnes spends her time playing in the surf whistling with the sea gulls and taking care of her dolls. She desperately wants something of her own so she makes a scarecrow and cares for it like a child. Soon, an escaped criminal named Joseph (Dean Stockwell) comes and dons the scarecrow's clothes, causing Agnes to imagine that her creation has come to life. She convinces the family to take Joseph into their home and quickly becomes enamored with him.The move stars slowly but gets progressively better. Each character is complex and interesting, namely Agnes and Joseph. Their relationship is intriguing if not a bit disturbing. Physically, they are both very beautiful people. Gozzi is gorgeous despite wearing no makeup and acting like a child; she is reminiscent of Ingrid Bergman. Stockwell also looks like a composite of two classic stars: James Dean and Montgomery Clift.
paintbrush_2003
This is a great film. For some reason this movie really struck a cord with me when I first caught in on tv back when I was a teenager. The lighting, the French location, the novelty [to me] of the film style...I must have watched it a hundred times. Even though I haven't seen it in a few years, I still remember how Agnes is so overwhelmed by everything in her life and seems to like to hide her in childlike world. And Dean Stockwell is actually pretty cute; I was surprised to find out this the same Dean Stockwell that was later on Quantum Leap. My mother told me that he was quite the heartthrob in the Sixties, and one can see why in this film. I also read the book by Phyllis Hasting, and it is a whole lot darker in tone than the film. I think it also explores the father-daughter relationship in more detail than the film. This and some of her other books seem very anti-male.
rinna7
Those who remember kid actress Patricia Gozzi's stirring performance in Sundays & Cybele (1962) will be equally amazed at the remarkable range she displays in this outing. As Agnes (or "Aun-yez", as the French pronounce it) she easily steals the film from headliners Dean Stockwell & Melvyn Douglas. Not a bad feat for a 15-year-old with limited previous film experience -- and none in English language films! Her completely believable performance as the sheltered & confused daughter of an embittered retired judge (Douglas) is nothing less than riveting.The movies' premise in a nutshell revolves around Agnes' conviction that a scarecrow she has made has come alive after fugitive Stockwell dons its clothes while on the run, and the ensuing relationship that develops between the two. Stockwell, whose fine performances have graced so many films, doesn't have much to do this time around. Film veteran Douglas, on the other hand, gets in some memorable scenes. Georges Delerue provides the gorgeous music he was noted for -- perfect for the film.Whether this particular movie grabs you or not, at its conclusion you'll no doubt find yourself wondering why Gozzi -- whose career seemed to come to a grinding halt shortly after this -- didn't continue acting into her adult years and become a major star. It's one of those perplexing mysteries of filmdom!
AD
