Il letto di spine

When you have the classical training that Richard Burton had you can make some of the worst tripe sound as profound as the classics. But even he had trouble with The Bramble Bush which is a third class ripoff of Peyton Place.

Burton is cast as a doctor in The Bramble Bush gone back to his Peyton Place like New England town on a consultation. A good friend from childhood, Tom Drake, is dying of incurable Hodgkin's Disease and he'd like for Burton to put an end to him in a humane manner. So would Drake's wife Barbara Rush so she can move on. Burton helps with her problem as well.

And he's also helping nurse Angie Dickinson with her situation as well. Angie's involved with bottom feeding lawyer Jack Carson and later on bottom of the ocean feeding city editor Henry Jones learns about the two of them. Angie would much prefer Burton and Burton obliges as best he can.

James Dunn's character is totally unexplained. Burton has a visceral hatred for him because he found him in bed with his mother back in the day as a kid. But why Dunn is trying to push himself in Burton's company is totally up in the air. Dunn does a good job as an alcoholic, sad to say in real life as well.

What might have been an interesting film on euthanasia instead becomes a trashy soap opera in The Bramble Bush. A whole cast of some really good players is wasted here.

I was 15 years old in 1960 when this flick was released (or escaped). I attended it on a blind date set up by my girlfriend, Carla. My date was a serious and proper young man who wore a suit and tie. Known for my teenage highjinks, I had assured my girlfriend that I would behave like a proper young lady. The complex tear jerking plot and multiple characters seemed to enchant the audience at the theatre on Hollywood Blvd. but kept me on the verge of laughter which I desperately attempted to stifle as the film went on...and on...and on. People were clutching handkerchiefs and sniffing back tears during the final courtroom scene when, at the sudden appearance of yet one more anguished character and one more unlikely plot twist, I gave in to a fit of teenage giggles. The scolding from my girlfriend, my date and offended members of the audience only increased my laughing fit which took on a life of its own, eventuating my removal by ushers who had to lift me out of my seat by the armpits and drag me screaming with laughter down the aisle into the lobby. Later, when I explained to my father why my girlfriend was no longer speaking to me and my date had ended early, he asked, "What was the movie?" He was a screenwriter and interested in such things. When I told him, he said, in a hushed, awed tone, "No wonder you laughed. That was the worst picture ever made." Instead of lecturing me about my improper social conduct, he commended me for having good taste in films.

No, not Elizabeth Taylor but a veteran actress just as beautiful and talented, maybe more so, a tall, trim brunette with deep-set brown eyes, lovely skin, and a great smile. She's the best thing in this post "Peyton Place" (1957) soap opera, very expressive as a dying man's wife who falls in love with his doctor (Burton). The picture features Angie Dickinson as a nurse who passively adores Burton, but she's already involved with a corrupt lawyer (Jack Carson). A murder results in a courtroom trial at the end. The drama tends to jump around a lot, but is bolstered by exceptional jazz and traditional musical score by Leonard Rosenman, and attractive imitation New England locations, in color.

"The Bramble Bush" is a frustrating movie. On one hand, it's an exceptional picture because it deals with euthanasia...an important topic that is almost completely ignored in movies. It brings up some great points....many of which get totally overwhelmed by the soapiness of pretty much everything else that takes place in the movie.

Dr. Guy Montford (Richard Burton) has returned to his old home town...a place he never wanted to see again. However, his best friend is dying and asking for him...and he cannot say no. Once in town, all sorts of soapy things occur...extramarital sex, rape, a pregnant wife...though the husband is not the father, etc.. There's so much that the film is much like "Peyton Place" on steroids...with more soap and crazy plot elements.

Overall, a film with some wonderful things to say about the right to die...but it manages to address them in the worst possible ways. A grumbly performance by Burton didn't help nor did a few extremely florid ones by others in the film. A real mixed bag...such that I can understand folks who gave the film low as well as high scores!

This movie was released in 1960, over 60 years ago. It would be unfair to judge it by today's mores and knowledge, soon please keep that in mind.

This is a very good psychological drama in which the characters struggle with all sorts of complex emotions - grief, guilt, love, frustration, feelings of failure, helplessness and more.

Perhaps this movie hits home with me because my husband suffered from the same disease as the character - Hodgkin's Lymphoma - during the early 1980's. When this film was made, the disease was nearly uniformly fatal. Thankfully, my husband was cured of the disease, and since the 1980's more strides have been made in the treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

If you are a viewer who likes psychological dramas, you will probably like this movie. If not, please pass instead of downgrading it, because for what kind of movie it is and for the time it was made, it is very good.