That Lady

...in this British-Spanish historical drama from 20th Century Fox and director Terence Young. In late 16th century Spain, King Philip II (Paul Scofield) enlists the aid of old friend and confidante Ana de Mendoza (Olivia de Havilland), the Princess of Eboli, to help Philip train a worthy successor to be his chief minister. Philip has his eye on commoner Antonio Perez (Gilbert Roland), so the king asks Ana to teach Antonio in the ways of the court. This leads to an affair between Antonio and the long-widowed Ana, a scandal in strict Catholic Spain. Scheming courtier Don Mateo (Dennis Price) sees to it that the scandal becomes a national outrage, forcing Philip to take harsh action.

I can see why de Havilland wanted this role, as it's showy and she gets to wear a lot of extravagant costumes, including an eye patch! Paul Scofield made his film debut here, and won a BAFTA as Best Newcomer. I'm curious how I would view his performance in that time, not knowing him from his subsequent roles, as he uses an affected voice, and makeup and hair design that make him appear older than his actual 33 years. I think he does a good job, but those character choices are glaring in the early scenes. Dennis Price is underused, and Christopher Lee, as the Captain of the Guard and ally of Price's baddie, just gets to look imposing. The Spanish location shooting is a plus. The story lurches from courtly intrigue to uninspired romance, with the latter winning out in the end.

A lot of talent worked on this movie. Terence Young directed, Robert Krasker photographed, and John Addison supplied most of the music. Costumes are lavish and sets make good use of actual locations in Spain. The cast shines with names such as Olivia de Havilland, Paul Scofield, Gilbert Roland, and Christopher Lee. It has the look of an "A" production, in CinemaScope at that.

Alas, neither the story nor the characters have much interest with the result that the movie doesn't work either as a romance or a historical epic. Just as MGM was finding out with Lana Turner's "Diana," these heavy costume dramas had gone out of style by the mid-1950s and audiences stayed away from them in droves. Certainly the marketing department must have had a problem selling a movie with such a bland and pointless title as "That Lady."

Paul Scofield made his film debut as Philip II of Spain in this handsome but slow-paced costumer that has Olivia de Havilland in the title role (wearing a black eyepatch as the one-eyed Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Eboli). Interesting costumes and scenery but it's all too talky with not enough movement, giving it the static look of a stage play rather than cinema. Gilbert Roland is excellent as de Havilland's lover and the rest of the supporting cast is fine, including Christopher Lee in an early bit role. Olivia is photographed beautifully throughout but the role, as written, gives her little opportunity to really shine. She was a great admirer of Katharine Cornell who played the role on stage to rave notices--probably the reason she chose to make this film. Lensed in Cinemascope and color, it loses a lot on the small screen and I don't believe Fox has ever released it to home video.

There are some great names in this film, Olivia de Havilland for one in the title role, John Gilbert back on the screen as a great lover, Paul Scofield as King Philip II of Spain, Francoise Rosay as Olivia de Havilland's trusted friend and nurse, Dennis Price as a double-dealing minister and even Christopher Lee in a small part as a captain; Richard Addison has contributed a great score, and the director is no one less than Terence Young, later on famous mostly for his James Bond films. All this should add to a great film of splendour, pageantry and glory? Well, does it? The story and script would have made a great basis for an opera, but as it is, it is no more than a rather heavy-weight melodrama. It's the heavy Spanish court of Philip II in his monastery castle outside Madrid, a monumental mausoleum for the living dead, and all you miss in this film is Don Carlos and that dreary additional intrigue. Paul Scofield runs the film, it's his character that you will remember afterwards, a gloomy giant of loneliness and miserable inhumanity, while Olivia de Havilland makes a very credible martyred princess. The settings are heavy, but they should be so, and their gloom only add to the realism of this study in the incompatibility of love with power - Philip sacrifices everything for his power and especially his soul and humanity, leaving nothing left - than further disasters of his realm, like the great armada against England. The film is interesting for its story and truthful rendering of the suffocating inhibition of the Spanish court, so there is nothing wrong with it. All you lack is the sparkle of life that was banned from thence.

As a very big fan of Mrs De Havilland ,I was very anxious to watch it! What a big disappointment!This costume melodrama is certainly one of her worst parts if not simply the worst!she's so subtle an actress one wonders why she did not turn it down and let it to lesser talents ;there are plenty of starlets who could have been content with it!perhaps because an one-eyed character is not very attractive!

As for the story itself ,it's a Spanish princess in love with the king's minister -and loved by the king too-;the minister is involved in a murder but that lady cannot even serve as an alibi .The king has his own problems with his brother who covets his throne .The script is inept,the cinematography is poor ,and the actors ,left to their own devices ,do what they can but it's not enough to save the movie;French viewers will notice the presence of Françoise Rosay as Bernadine aka Bernie ,one of our greatest actresses;like De Havilland and Scofield,why did she get involved in that business with that lady?