Un matin comme les autres

Firstly I will agree that this isn't the most riveting film ever made, but I will disagree with the reviewer who says that Peck is too handsome to make a believable alcoholic. We know that Fitzgerald was handsome, intelligent and charming, three things which made Peck an excellent choice to play him on film. Furthermore there is a pretty amazing scene where violence erupts between Peck and Kerr, it's truly believable, which heartbreakingly portrayed the depths to which Fitzgerald had sunk. Obviously when the story is based on Sheilah Graham's recollections, it will be purely personal and she may have softened the truth or by the same account exaggerated it. The look of the picture is beautiful, especially the wardrobe for Kerr. I say simply to get a look at two stars in their prime it's worth it to muddle through. Kerr and Peck have a tangible chemistry.

There's one great scene in Beloved Infidel that's so fantastic, it's mind-blowing. Gregory Peck gets drunk and picks a fight with Deborah Kerr, and it escalates into violence. It's the best scene in the movie, and it's the one that will stick with you afterwards. But, unfortunately, the rest of the movie isn't very good.

From the point of view of notorious gossip columnist Sheila Graham, this movie follows the romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Graham in the final years of his life. The screenplay feels very biased, and it makes me wonder how much of it was actually true, since Graham's occupation was to blow up drama and cause a scandal in the newspapers. According to this movie, Graham was so physically attractive, Scott just couldn't resist her, and they constantly had blow-up fights and make up and break ups and it was so emotionally abusive that she was always a victim and cared too much and couldn't stay away because she feared for his safety and believe in him-Are you exhausted yet? Are you wondering whether or not every single scene is true? Don't go into this movie with high hopes, and if you're a huge F. Scott Fitzgerald fan, you're bound to be disappointed.

Ironically enough, Graham herself was disappointed with Gregory Peck's casting and portrayal. She wanted someone lighter colored, specifically Bing Crosby or Richard Basehart. Even more ironically, Fitzgerald's daughter was said to have thought Peck nailed her dad's personality. It just goes to show you that children and romantic partners have different points of view of the same person. Clearly, Graham wanted someone who came across as diminutive, unsure, and emotionally vulnerable (remember The Country Girl?). Gregory Peck doesn't look like F. Scott Fitzgerald in the slightest, and he could never pull off diminutive! Richard Basehart would have been wonderful, not only because of his physical appearance, but because he's a better actor. Don't throw anything at me, but Atticus Finch alone doesn't make an entire career of great performances. Basehart has layers Peck just can't take on, and this movie calls for acting chops Peck just doesn't have. If you doubt it, rent Fourteen Hours and try to imagine Gregory Peck on the ledge.

Deborah Kerr gives a typical Deborah Kerr performance, so if you like her, you'll like her in this movie. She's my mom's favorite actress of the golden age, but I'm not a fan. I wholeheartedly commend her for her desperation in the one great scene, though. On the whole, she showcases her wobbly voice, her strength, and her tearful emotion that she normally showcases in her movies. Weigh the potential pros and cons before renting this movie, and if you end up not liking it, just chalk it up to Hollywood drama and put it out of your mind. That's my advice.

In 1936, the witty columnist Sheilah Graham (Deborah Kerr) leaves her noble British fiancé and travels in the Queen Mary from Southampton, England, to New York. She seeks out the editor of the North American Newspaper Alliance John Wheeler (Philip Ober) offering her services but he sends her to the Daily Mirror. Sheilah becomes successful and John offers a job position in Hollywood to write gossips about the stars. When Sheilah meets the decadent writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (Gregory Peck), they immediately fall in love for each other. Sheilah discovers that Scott is accepting any job to write screenplay to financially support his wife Zelda that is in asylum and his daughter that is in a boarding school. She opens her heart to him and tells the truth about her origins; but their relationship is affected by the drinking problem of Scott.

"Beloved Infidel" is a melodramatic soap-opera based on the true romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham along the last four years of the life of the American writer. However, the screenplay is based on the book written by Sheilah Graham that is pictured as an angel that helps the decadent and cruel drunkard. I do not know the biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald but this version is shallow and not independent. Gregory Peck is weak in the dramatic parts and the lovely Deborah Kerr is too sweet even when insulted considering the profile of the controversial reporter Sheilah Graham, considered a bitch by the industry. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Ídolo de Cristal" ("The Crystal Idol")

Beloved Infidel is the story of the real life romance between Hollywood gossip columnist Sheilah Graham (Deborah Kerr) and legendary writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (Gregory Peck). It is based on Graham's autobiography and the story is definitely told through her eyes. Plain and simple, the story is a soap opera and the quality of writing fits it. For a story about two professional writers, the script fails to properly develop the characters. Graham has one scene about 40 minutes in when she opens up a reveals the truth about herself, but it is not built on and scarcely mentioned again as the story transitions to a focus on Fitzgerald's drinking, which comes out a left field.

Kerr gives a good performance given how little she has to work with, and Peck tries his best to match her. However, Peck is a little miscast in this role as the emotionally troubled Fitzgerald. In between well done emotional outbursts, Peck reverts to his traditional stoicism, which works well in many of his other roles, but feels slightly out of place here. There is also a surprising no appearance by or hardly a mention of Fitzgerald's wife, Zelda. A fascinating person who at this point in her life was in a sanitarium. That is just one example of Graham's influence on the script, keeping the focus off of her lover's wife.

Ultimately, Beloved Infidel is probably not worth your time unless you are a big fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald or Deborah Kerr.

I, for one really love this movie. It has all the elements of a classic movie. Great Actors, Love , Betrayal, And Redemption. When watching don't be over critical. This was produced in the 1950's and all movies of this time are a bit over acted and fanciful. Try to view it for what it is(not a biographical documentary about Sheila Graham and F. Scott Fitzgerald) but a sweeten Hollywood version of their story. Very enjoyable.. Gregory Peck is at his understated best!! Deborah Kerr is very believable as a woman who loves this man despite his problems. This movie is very understated. The scene where Scott hits Sheila and threatens her with the gun is well acted; the violence is not used to make the movie more watchable as it is now a days. It is a film the evokes many different emotions from the viewer. There are the highs of being in love and the lows of despair and fright. It encompasses all. A great film!!!!