Lady Audley's Secret

Hopefully, somebody will actually make a faithful version of this terrific gothic novel. Because this certainly wasn't one. What a big disappointment.

Having studied this book in my doctoral program, I can tell you that this adaptation of the story is unnecessarily inaccurate. One of the primary "secrets" of Lady Audley's is given away almost at the very beginning, her appearance, which really is important to the meaning of the story, is completely altered. Characters and plot are altered and not for the better. The flow of the film is often very choppy, especially in the last third.

I won't innumerate all of its faults, but will simply end by saying that if you have seen the movie and enjoy it, read the book and everything will make even more sense. If you saw the movie and didn't enjoy it, please don't blame the author. Read the book and see how sensational it is!

I thought the introduction by Diana Rigg was fascinating. It's prompted me to read more of the author's works. The film was rather slow moving. The relationship building between Lucy and Robert wasn't there really but it was a delight on the eyes and captured the era in costumes and scenery beautifully. There weren't any real twists but it was an interesting story. Characters (the maid) were brought in, then used and dropped. Needed a bit more fleshing out. Worth watching though.

The original novel, Lady Audley's Secret, has much in common with the early detective novels that are also sensation novels by Wilkie Collins (The Woman in White, The Moonstone, etc.). This adaptation reduces the complexity of the plot (probably necessary), but also make so many unwarranted plot changes that it dilutes the intensity of the story. So, for the person who has read and has enjoyed Lady Audley's Secret, this is very disappointing.

From the point of view if production, the lighting and blocking are not as effective as they could be, and the location, while attractive, does not take advantage of the potential for creating tension between the open / superficial truths, and the hidden.

I think that the script could be much more effective with slowly unfolding flashbacks or more emphasis on the scraps of paper, pieces of evidence that are slowly uncovered / encountered by the "slacker" barrister.. and, his transformation from an unmotivated and rather indolent gentleman to a man with a purpose.

As an adaptation of a pretty good novel, this film sucked. It was related to the novel in only the vaguest sense of the word. There were huge plot changes and one look at Lady Audley is enough to confirm to anyone who's read the book that Lady Audley was woe-fully mis-cast.

As a stand-alone film, it sucked. It was very boring - the structure made it impossible to feel any tension at the plot. It was confusing and slow. The writing was atrocious and laughable - over-the-top speeches and ham-acting.

I implore you - avoid this film at all costs.