NEW DIRECTION

⚪️🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣⚫️ NEW DIRECTION Ed. No. 134 - PERFECTIONISM IS PERSECUTED

A TALL POPPY

Sarah Miles as Rosy Ryan from David Lean's masterpiece "RYAN'S DAUGHTER" (1970) PIC: IMDb

"IT WAS A GOOD TIME

IT WAS THE BEST TIME

IT WAS A PARTY

JUST TO BE NEAR YOO..."

Perhaps one of the most underrated movies of all time is "Ryan's Daughter".

It also happens to be my most appreciated feature film of all time.

This choice might raise curiosity from those who know film.

“Ryan’s Daughter”(1970) was Director David Lean’s penultimate movie. It was generally critically panned at the time of its release being roundly condemned even laughed out of cinemas by some critics back in 1970.

Very few aspects of the film were left untouched by the critics acerbic tongues.

And yet it was in the top ten financial successes (No. 8) of the year garnering two Oscars.

Personally I loved every single frame of its deliciously whopping three hours and twenty six minutes screen time. It's a winner from its small story told across David Lean’s usual grand sweeping canvas down to the details of his perfectionism throughout the whole production. Maurice Jarre's music captured the rolling clouds and roiling seas so beautifully reflecting the main character's restlessness and longing*. Enrapturing is a good word describing the music and the film generally.

I return to this 'work of art' when feeling the need of inspiration for things well done.

And no it was not a simple movie to produce on any level. From “troubled” actors through to the isolated landscape and non compliant weather. It was a tough shoot.

In summary it is a film of romantic beauty made real.

Yep, enrapturing.

So why was it panned?

David Lean had had a string of mega hit movies including “Bridge on the River Kwai”, “Doctor Zhivago”, “Lawrence of Arabia” and according to actress Sarah Miles who played the female lead in “Ryan’s Daughter” the critics weren’t going to let him have another success.

David Lean was quite a proud man certainly a tough taskmaster. If you have ever worked with a perfectionist then you’ll know they are not easy people and can grate others - easily.

Interesting that the central character of Rosy Ryan in "Ryan's Daughter" could be described as somewhat similar in characteristics to David Lean himself. They both wanted more or the best of what life can deliver. And they were both forthright about getting it.

I wonder whether perfectionists are mostly unhappy people? In excess perfectionist behaviour like any extremist behaviour can create pain. And sure, no doubt there are some for whom pain is pleasure! What perfectionists do though is regard what they do as all too often never good enough. They can push themselves and others far too hard.

But boy O boy give me a David Lean film any day to light the spirit.

He showcases what is possible.

David Lean said himself that movie making is hard work. No doubt particularly for someone with his high standards.

The critics certainly pulled him down. Mr. Lean has told a story of being invited to a long table grilling by some of the best know film critics who verbally pulled him apart over “Ryan’s Daughter”. He only made one further film. “A Passage to India” followed 14 years after “Ryan’s Daughter”. Quite an hiatus of time. For me that final film lacked the romantic passion of his earlier epics. Was his spirit bowed?

I don’t know? Is cutting down those who rise above rank and file mediocre justified?

The “tall poppy syndrome” as we call it in Australia is still out there. It certainly can deprive us of some truly great achievements. We all lose out because of others mediocrity and inability to rise to the challenge.

It is an interesting dichotomy. Should the priority be to encourage/develop the creative skills of the grass roots (as appropriately exampled by the simplistic, tedious and bored villagers in "Ryan's Daughter") or to champion those soaring eagles whose talent shines like David Lean?

I'd suggest both are equally important. Can't they each stimulate the other? They should.

Great achievement will always come at a great price.

I wish that David Lean could have received more actual joy from his own creations. And that others could have just either stepped aside or gotten on board more willingly with greatness.

The film needs a stand alone reassessment and its status rehabilitated minus all of the human foibles and personal prejudice.

But we can’t give what we don’t have to give. Such a shame.

I have a question to all of the critics, not only of “Ryan’s Daughter”

but of “life” in general. Have you become too cynical?

Where did our romanticism go? Neville

*A soaring melancholic 'Rosy's Theme' musical interlude

is featured in the opening credits of "Ryan's Daughter".

The music was later given lyrics "IT WAS A GOOD TIME"

and performed by the Mike Curb Congregation and others.

Liza Minnelli expressed a powerfully emotive version of the song

in her awarded TV Special "Liza with a Z" (1972).

IT WAS A GOOD TIME