Richard Burton hated this movie, calling is a "f***ing bloody, lousy, nothing film": I must strongly disagree. Ash Wednesday paints a haunting picture of a plastic surgery hospital, with patients walking around like zombies with bandages over their heads in a last desperate bid to be young again. As Keith Baxter's character puts it "we all simply refuse to accept reality". One moment during the film is in which a group of patients are playing cards; reminds me of the 'waxworks' scene from Sunset Boulevard. Realistic or not, this whole section of the movie is eerie and effective. Even after Elizabeth Taylor has left the hospital there is this continuing sense of unease, as if she has just sold her soul to the devil; helped in part by Maurice Jarre's music score. The movie's theme of fading beauty is made all the more poignant since its Elizabeth Taylor of all people doing the role.
The first act of Ash Wednesday features graphic scenes of plastic surgery. Watching the film I didn't know if they were real or just really convincing special effects. Nope, it turns out it is real footage with skin being cut open and plenty of exposed flesh in close up detail. I do wonder who is actually under the knife in this footage but it is an effectively put together sequence in which I believed Elizabeth Taylor's character was the one undertaking plastic surgery.
The opening credits of the film feature a series of cut and paste photographs of Elizabeth Taylor and Henry Fonda in an effort to make it appear they have been a married couple as they age over the years. Fonda being much older than Taylor in real life, these series of photos feature the two at the same age periods, so a photo of Fonda in the 30's will be cut and paste with a picture of Taylor from the 50's. It's not entirely convincing but is neat to look at.
What I appreciate most about Ash Wednesday is just honest the storytelling is. Taylor's husband played by Henry Fonda simply doesn't love her anymore, there is no sexual attraction between the two them and they don't satisfy each other's needs anymore; yet he doesn't come off as a jerk getting these points across. Untimely the two learn to accept this but not without having an understanding of each other and move on with their lives.
Ash Wednesday has yet to ever see the light of day on DVD, remaining VHS only.
The first act of Ash Wednesday features graphic scenes of plastic surgery. Watching the film I didn't know if they were real or just really convincing special effects. Nope, it turns out it is real footage with skin being cut open and plenty of exposed flesh in close up detail. I do wonder who is actually under the knife in this footage but it is an effectively put together sequence in which I believed Elizabeth Taylor's character was the one undertaking plastic surgery.
The opening credits of the film feature a series of cut and paste photographs of Elizabeth Taylor and Henry Fonda in an effort to make it appear they have been a married couple as they age over the years. Fonda being much older than Taylor in real life, these series of photos feature the two at the same age periods, so a photo of Fonda in the 30's will be cut and paste with a picture of Taylor from the 50's. It's not entirely convincing but is neat to look at.
What I appreciate most about Ash Wednesday is just honest the storytelling is. Taylor's husband played by Henry Fonda simply doesn't love her anymore, there is no sexual attraction between the two them and they don't satisfy each other's needs anymore; yet he doesn't come off as a jerk getting these points across. Untimely the two learn to accept this but not without having an understanding of each other and move on with their lives.
Ash Wednesday has yet to ever see the light of day on DVD, remaining VHS only.