...read the book. I just want to correct a previous commenter who
said that Elizabeth McGovern as Evelyn Nesbit was a sex symbol
of the '20s; sorry, but Nesbit would have been in her mid-30s by
that time. This movie is set in the '00s of the 20th century. The
Nesbit-White-Thaw scandal erupted in 1906, and I think most of
the events in this story unfolded around 1909. I do think McGovern is prettier than Nesbit was. Anyway, what bothered me was the final scene where Mother
takes both kids and runs off with Tateh. Granted, Mandy Patinkin is
gorgeous, especially in 1981, but I just can't believe Mother would
have been that liberated, that fast, in 1909. In the stage musical
version, Father goes down with the Lusitania, which makes it
convenient. That's why I feel a need to read the book and see how
E. L. Doctorow really wrote it. The first 40 years of 20th century
American history are truly fascinating.
Great story. Great musical. Good movie. It's a long book.
said that Elizabeth McGovern as Evelyn Nesbit was a sex symbol
of the '20s; sorry, but Nesbit would have been in her mid-30s by
that time. This movie is set in the '00s of the 20th century. The
Nesbit-White-Thaw scandal erupted in 1906, and I think most of
the events in this story unfolded around 1909. I do think McGovern is prettier than Nesbit was. Anyway, what bothered me was the final scene where Mother
takes both kids and runs off with Tateh. Granted, Mandy Patinkin is
gorgeous, especially in 1981, but I just can't believe Mother would
have been that liberated, that fast, in 1909. In the stage musical
version, Father goes down with the Lusitania, which makes it
convenient. That's why I feel a need to read the book and see how
E. L. Doctorow really wrote it. The first 40 years of 20th century
American history are truly fascinating.
Great story. Great musical. Good movie. It's a long book.