Darling, 1965.
Directed by John Schlesinger.
Starring Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Harvey, José Luis de Vilallonga, and Roland Curram.
SYNOPSIS:
Diana is a beautiful and ambitious model enjoying the rapidly changing social landscape of the 1960s. Spending her time with a selection of very different influential men, she moves through life in a romantic idyll – one that is often at risk of collapsing.
John Schlesinger’s mesmeric film Darling reflects the real change in attitudes that were going on in mid-1960s London. Set in the height of the Swinging Sixties, Darling follows the ambitious model, actor and socialite Diana Scott (Julie Christie) as she navigates her path through relationships and career aspirations.
Diana’s relationships with four very different men help to define the film, but not her. Indeed, the film is a clarion call for independence, for although Diana does not always go about things in an ‘acceptable’ manner for the times, she always does what she wants. Her character, expertly brought out by Christie, displays a combination of innocence and cynicism that makes her opportunistic actions veer towards what could be termed selfish.
Her fairy-tale middle-class upbringing is displayed in a lightly humorous ironic tone at the start of the film, but rather than being throwaway, it is an important introduction to Diana’s nature. She is someone used to getting what she wants, and this continues into adult life, with all its contortions and confusions.
One thing that remains constant is Diana’s ability to manipulate the opportunities afforded by the men in her life. Another early insight into her character is provided when she leaves her young husband seemingly more or less on a whim. A character later explains that they married too soon.
Darling represents the real changes that were taking place at the time. While Diana is a difficult person to like, she does represent a more fluid kind of character, particularly in her attempt to negotiate more than one relationship at the same time.
Dirk Bogarde’s Robert Gold, an essentially honest TV journalist who nevertheless leaves his wife and children for Diana’s charms, is someone who strives to decipher the truth in a bewildering reality. The challenge of working out Diana is that she can’t be worked out; she does things on instinct, on whether she feels like doing it at the time.
Laurence Harvey’s advertising executive is more in line with this anything-goes attitude, although his excesses, particularly at a Parisian apartment party that puts the ‘swingers’ in the ‘swinging’ threaten to drive Diana away. Her most successful relationship is with Roland Curram’s gay photographer, who understands her love of living in the now.
The reality of a happy ending with a rich and successful husband is put through a distorted mirror with the introduction of a fourth man, an Italian nobleman with riches beyond imagination. It transpires that what Diana thought she wanted may not be the same as the reality of living with it.
A wildly entertaining and gorgeously put-together document of the modern 1960s landscape, Darling is a film always worth rewatching. This perfectly restored release makes it even more of a treasure.
Special features include Sofia Coppola’s thoughts on the film, an interview with writer Frederic Raphael, plus a look at the work of costume designer Julie Harris.
The 4K UHD (also Blu-ray) is released by StudioCanal on June 16th.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert W Monk
