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Post by indigoblue on May 18, 2016 23:53:34 GMT
Found a DVD of the Tamarind Seed last year, finally had time to watch it last night! It's a romantic thriller (1974) starring Julie and Omar Sharif, directed by her husband Blake Edwards and based on a novel by Evelyn Anthony (a good starting place), and I loved it - surprised it isn't better known.
It's about a woman (JA) who works in the Home Office in London (Min of Interior), who goes on holiday to get away from an affair and finds herself befriended, against her better wishes, by a Russian (Omar Sharif). I won't spill any beans, but the film is about his motivations for doing so and what happens subsequently. But Blake Edwards slowly increases the suspense with various twists and turns in the plot right up to the end.
Apparently there were mutterings about how there was too little chemistry between Julie and Omar (WHAT?!!) which is interesting after the overdose of chemistry we are used to with JA and CP in TSOM...in fairness to Julie, I thought she was well-cast, and was having to keep the Russian at arm's length for 2/3 of the film. Then when she capitulated, it can't have been easy relaxing into a full frontal kiss with Omar with your husband standing feet away!
Although it seems a little dated at first (as it's 40 years old, it has a vintage quality to it), I'd recommend it.
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Post by gothicbutterfly95 on May 19, 2016 4:45:34 GMT
I put this one on every once in a while.
At times I find it a little confusing and derivative (for anyone's who's seen this and Americanization of Emily...just think about it for a bit) but I do enjoy it.
As far as chemistry goes, I thought it was fine. Not Christopher Plummer level, but I think it worked, especially for the story.
Would also recommend.
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Post by utility_singer on May 19, 2016 10:36:12 GMT
I haven't found it to watch, but I myself find Omar Sharif creepy rather than attractive, so that will likely color my opinion once I do.
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Post by eve93 on May 19, 2016 10:40:42 GMT
I haven't found it to watch, but I myself find Omar Sharif creepy rather than attractive, so that will likely color my opinion once I do. The whole movie is on Youtube.  I find him rather creepy as well by the way. |
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Post by utility_singer on May 19, 2016 11:08:06 GMT
Ooh, thanks!
Yeah, never understood his appeal.
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Post by indigoblue on May 19, 2016 11:22:39 GMT
I can understand that - I think he was at his zenith some years before, but is well-cast here.
Apparently the film made money but Blake and Julie took a large cut of the profits (so the DVD blurb tells me).
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Post by bloghey131313 on May 20, 2016 3:12:42 GMT
I'm a fan of the sound track and Julie and Blake obviously but not of Omar Sharif. I don't understand the appeal either. Idk, maybe the mustache look just doesn't do it for me. Julie looked amazing in this movie (although...when does she not look good??)
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Post by gothicbutterfly95 on May 20, 2016 4:11:51 GMT
NEVER! She's always amazing
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Post by utility_singer on May 20, 2016 10:47:53 GMT
Honestly, I'm not a fan of Blake, either.
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Post by mucwriter on Jun 2, 2016 10:50:30 GMT
Honestly, I'm not a fan of Blake, either. Interesting that you say that, @utility_singer. Julie Andrews is not too well-known here in Germany, for whatever reason. My theory: We get all the movies synchronized, and they had actors sing weird German lyrics in weird German voices. Horrible, really. So people never came in contact with her gorgeous singing - because in pre-DVD-times, there was no way of seeing the original versions. You all know that TSOM was never really popular over here, because Germany had "Die Trapp Familie" and the sequel. But hardly anyone (of whatever generation) knows Mary Poppins, and I can't remember the movie ever being shown on TV. However, we have had "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and the Pink Panthers, Blakes most famous movies. I don't think that there is a version of the Tamrind Seed over here, and neither is there one of the Americanization of Emily, which I would REALLY like to watch (they haven't even released a DVD in Britain, can you imagine?!). When I started discovering Julie Andrews and her movies and read up on her life, some of her leading men and als her late husband struck me as... weird somehow. I can't really put my finger on why, and obviously they were very happy together. But nevertheless... Anyway, just my two cents. And Omar Sharif... never been my cup of tea. Ever. |
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Post by blaueaugen on Jun 2, 2016 12:42:33 GMT
Another one here for the "people really think Omar Sharif is hot?" camp. Granted I've only seen him in Funny Girl and The Fall of the Roman Empire (which tbh I completely forgot he was in until I went on IMDb. Clearly someone something must have been distracting me.), but I just don't get it... Perhaps that'll change when I finally get around to watching Lawrence of Arabia (although I doubt it: hi, Peter O'Toole!) or Doctor Zhivago.
As for Blake Edwards, I have to say I love the Pink Panther movies, but I found The Party only on the good side of meh and think Breakfast At Tiffany's is overrated. And I give most of the credit for the Pink Panther to Peter Sellers anyway. To my shame, I haven't seen any of his movies with Julie...
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Post by eve93 on Jun 2, 2016 13:15:53 GMT
Oh bugger, I'd totally forgotten about the fact that he was in The Fall Of The Roman Empire as well!! blaueaugen Never even noticed him. Pretty sure one certain person is to blame for that:  And yes, in Lawrence of Arabia I'd be watching at Peter O'Toole as well (those blue eyes * swoon*). |
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Post by utility_singer on Jun 3, 2016 0:59:13 GMT
Oh bugger, I'd totally forgotten about the fact that he was in The Fall Of The Roman Empire as well!! blaueaugen Never even noticed him. Pretty sure one certain person is to blame for that: And yes, in Lawrence of Arabia I'd be watching at Peter O'Toole as well (those blue eyes * swoon*). Ohmylanta I love this. I not only don't really like any of Blake's work I blame him for the slide of Julie's movie career and ultimately her voice. It may be irrational, and I know how deeply she loved him, but I've always thought he seemed like a real asshole. |
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Post by blaueaugen on Jun 3, 2016 10:25:15 GMT
I not only don't really like any of Blake's work I blame him for the slide of Julie's movie career and ultimately her voice. It may be irrational, and I know how deeply she loved him, but I've always thought he seemed like a real asshole. Now this sounds like an intriguing story or two that I don't know... Sorry for loving gossip way more than I should :/ |
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Post by utility_singer on Jun 3, 2016 10:43:00 GMT
Not much in the way of gossip, just things said either by Julie or others in interviews, and comments and attitude from him. Many of them making excuses for him on account of his 'genius'. I almost feel like I'm in the museum looking at a blank canvas everyone is crowing over while I'm thinking 'what the hell?'.
And then there was a moment at the book signing I went to when Julie and Emma were both sharing stories about the importance of reading to children and Julie made a point of saying it was of extra importance to her as a mum because "Blake wasn't that kind of father."
Just bits and pieces of things that, put together, don't impress me much.
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Post by gothicbutterfly95 on Jun 3, 2016 12:38:17 GMT
I agree with a lot of this. I do really like some of her films with Blake (two out of my top three Julie movies overall actually), but the others not so much (two out of the bottom three as well). Tamarind Seed is actually the one that isn't in either; I just find it dull but not awful in the same way I find 10 or S.O.B. awful. I haven't seen the Pink Panther films and probably won't ever see Breakfast at Tiffany's again.
I do think Victor/Victoria in 1995 was the final kicker for the loss of her voice, and always had very much of a 'I don't get it', but I know (and I think we all do) that Julie loved him very very much and that's a big thing (for me at least).
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Post by utility_singer on Jun 4, 2016 10:56:30 GMT
The only Pink Panther movie I can stand to watch is Return, but that is because Chris is in it (shirtless, too! ha)
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I find him rather creepy as well by the way. 
