479 - The Night of the Iguana, United States, 1964. Dir. John Huston.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

479 - The Night of the Iguana, United States, 1964.  Dir. John Huston.

The Reverend Dr. T. Lawrence Shannon gives Blake's bus tours in and around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

He has been away from his church in Pleasant Valley, Virginia, for a couple years.  He insists he has not been defrocked.  He has simply been "locked out" for awhile after having been committed to an asylum due to a nervous breakdown.

There was a reason for that, which he explains in the movie.

Now Rev. Shannon gives "Tours of God's world given by a minister of God."  He rides on the bus and points out the sites and attractions, while another man, his colleague Hank, drives the bus.  This week it is a group of women from the Baptist Female College who are taking the tour.  And they may be more than he can handle.

Charlotte Goodall is on board.  She comes on to Shannon.  Makes him feel uncomfortable.  He tries to resist her but she will not leave him alone.

Her chaperone, Judith Fellowes, is on board as well.  Charlotte keeps putting herself into positions in which Judith "catches" her.  And Shannon as well.  Whether aware of it or not, Charlotte effectively sets up Shannon so that Fellowes will think the worst of him.

Which Miss Fellowes is more than prepared to do

But just as she is about to place a fateful phone call to Texas, Dr. Shannon has an inspired idea.

Take over the bus driving.  Pass through Puerto Vallarta without stopping.  Go onto Mismaloya.  Stop the bus.  Take the distributor head.  Go up the steep hill.  Make the group stay with your old friend, the hotel owner Maxine Faulk.

A woman and her father make their way up the hill.

And all of these people together stay in a pressure cooker that will bring out the worst and best of what lurks within them.

Richard Burton.  Ava Gardner.  Deborah Kerr.

With Sue Lyon.  Grayson Hall.  Cyril Delevanti.  And Skip Ward.

Another major work by Tennessee Williams.

Another well-acted film.

And direction by none other than John Huston.

If you aspire to become a great film director then watch and study John Huston.

And have some iguana.

It tastes like chicken.