As a longtime Hemingway fan, I've wanted to see this film but it's never on TV. It's based on the short story "The Short-Happy Life of Francis Macomber." The movie stars Gregory Peck, Joan Bennett, and Robert Preston. Before I had internet access, the only thing I saw of the film was a lobby card from a Hemingway coffee table book!
From the few reviews I've read, the movie is considered one of the better adaptations of Hemingway's work. I was disappointed that The Macomber Affair wasn't included on the Hemingway Classics Collection DVD set. It was a United Artists release with a score by Miklós Rózsa. I've been on a Rózsa kick lately and would be interested in hearing this score and of course seeing the film. Has anyone here seen The Macomber Affair? What's the score like? How does it compare to Rózsa's other work from this period? Do I ask too many questions? Did my order ship yet, etc?
I saw it circa 1978 on the late show here in Dallas. It was very good, true to the spirit of Hemingway. It has to have had some airing on TCM or cable over the years.
1978??? Steven J, we gotsta get our votes counted at TCM! The Macomber Affair is currently #521 on the list of requested films not on DVD. Perhaps we film music fans can make the difference!
The film is frequently shown on UK TV. The film's OK but it's certainly no classic and I thought Gregory Peck was miscast as a big game hunter. Then again, having the main character of the film as a brave animal hunter (brave with a gun that is) didn't appeal to me. It's an average Rozsa score for the period but nothing very special.
The film's OK but it's certainly no classic and I thought Gregory Peck was miscast as a big game hunter. Then again, having the main character of the film as a brave animal hunter (brave with a gun that is) didn't appeal to me. l.
I thought that Peck might've tapped into an early form of his Ahab/MacArthur persona for the role of Wilson.
THE MACOMBER AFFAIR is one of my favorite Rozsa scores that's never been recorded, along with A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE, A WOMAN OF THE TOWN, SUNDOWN, KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS, and that son-of-SPELLBOUND-type noir score for THE SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR. A number of these films, such as SUNDOWN, are in the public domain, and have been around on DVD for some time in bargain editions. I managed to see all of them years ago, at one time or another, when they were shown at various times on New York TV, and I was able to make suites, comprising just the music sections but including dialogue and sound effects, on reel-to-reel tape. That was back in the days when I considered the only way to hear any Golden Age score was to record the whole movie, then transfer just the music sections to reel-to-reel. (To give you some idea of how long ago this was, I recorded these films on my Betamax player, and God alone knows where that is now....)
MACOMBER has been touted as being the one movie based on Hemingway that was the closest to its original source material. Except for the ending, SPOILER ALERT, which was tacked on to make everyone feel guilty and "pay" for their behavior. (Actually, when you see it, the ending actually works, and is a logical extension of the original story.)
But I've always loved the score, and wish someone would re-record it. Which is not, when you think of it, beyond the realm of possibility these days....
I have a very nice 16mm print of MACOMBER. I also have a video copy from Showtime years ago. For some reason, the end title was cut off the cable print. This is one of both Joan Bennett and Robert Preston's performances. Also probably my favorite Hemingway film after THE BREAKING POINT.
Many of Rozsa's noir scores are fairly short so in theory multiple complete scores could fit on one 80 minute disc, filling out his discography quite wonderfully...if somebody around here *coughBillAnnaJohncough* had the guts to finally tackle Rozsa!
It's been called the screen's best attempt at Hemingway. Certainly the depiction of the marital discord between Preston and Bennett is exceptionally subtle and mature for its day. Good score, with some queasy moments of suppressed tension.
Many of Rozsa's noir scores are fairly short so in theory multiple complete scores could fit on one 80 minute disc, filling out his discography quite wonderfully...if somebody around here *coughBillAnnaJohncough* had the guts to finally tackle Rozsa!
Yavar
While I would love to see them tackle such a project, I don't think that they have an indefatigable supply of money- or time and resources to do everything that somebody "coughYavarcough" wants them to wave a wand and do....
Of course they don't. But they know I know that and as we know one another personally I don't think they mind me elbowing them occasionally. At least I know John doesn't (he already has his own Rozsa priorities anyway). If Bill or Anna do they can tell me and I'll shut up. Historically though they've always solicited requests.
Of course they don't. But they know I know that and as we know one another personally I don't think they mind me elbowing them occasionally. At least I know John doesn't (he already has his own Rozsa priorities anyway). If Bill or Anna do they can tell me and I'll shut up. Historically though they've always solicited requests.
Yavar
"You can only Pray to God, so much, Edith-- after a while, it get's to be nagging!"- Archie Bunker, 1976
I caught up with this film from a recent TCM airing and greatly enjoyed this forgotten Rozsa score. The print shown is the same one with the missing finale (unfortunately) but it was otherwise in decent shape. I'm not familiar with Hemingway's story, but the movie works well and Peck, Bennett and Preston are quite good - the ending felt a little off, but not completely out-of-character.
Rozsa's music confidently combines elements of his exotic/jungle-type music and the brooding intensity of his psychological/noir period. Some highlights include energetic safari-chase music and some tense sequences building toward confrontations with cornered animals. Rozsa's usual romantic material is much darker here, but no less impassioned.
It is definitely worth rediscovering and potentially re-recording the music from this, but I'm guessing it is yet another title doomed to unfortunate neglect. I'd sure love to hear Rozsa's finale, though!
I understand the film is now in public domain until someone renews the copyright. Even then, finding a decent print might be too difficult to locate. The original camera negative may not even exist, or can't be found.
I have some film chaining to do. I'll transfer the end of the picture and upload it.
Wow Ray F. - that would be amazing! Thanks in advance!
I looked the film up in my old "The United Artists Story" tome and curiously they mention a trial scene at the end which would've been redundant. I imagine that they had a hard time viewing this film as well so who knows where their information was "borrowed" from.
