While recuperating in a Confederate girls' boarding school, a Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.While recuperating in a Confederate girls' boarding school, a Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.While recuperating in a Confederate girls' boarding school, a Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.
- Abigail
- (as Melody Thomas)
- Janie
- (as Pattye Mattick)
- 1st Confederate Captain
- (as Charles Briggs)
- 2nd Confederate Captain
- (as Charles Martin)
- Soldier
- (as Wayne 'Buddy' Van Horn)
- Confederate Sergeant
- (uncredited)
- Wagon Driver
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaClint Eastwood and Jo Ann Harris had an affair that continued well after they made the movie.
- GoofsWhen McBurney is playing cards, the deck has both the symbols (hearts, spades, etc) and the number in the corner. Numbers were not printed on cards until 1864 and it was extremely rare to see a deck with them until 20-30 years after the war.
- Quotes
Hallie: Miss Martha said I should shave you. But I ain't so sure.
[examining his face]
Hallie: I don't think the Lord want a man's face all smooth like a baby's bottom. That's why he gave him whiskers. Might be a sin to shave that group off.
Cpl. John McBurney: [huskily] Then don't do it. Sinning oughta be saved for *much* more important things!
Hallie: I better shave you! Miss Martha give me my orders. Not de Lord. And even without whiskers, you wouldn't look half bad - for a white man.
[laughs]
- Alternate versionsThe leg amputation scene was edited by the censors for the film's original UK cinema release. Later releases were uncut and rated 15.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Eastwood on Eastwood (1997)
The basic storyline almost sounds like the makings of a porno film. We have a masculine male suddenly surrounded by young nubile women. Most of them are sexually attracted to him. And he is more than willing to spread the love amongst them. The material never really slips down to the level of "tasteless", however. Eastwood, Siegel, and cinematographer Bruce Surtees are such skilled filmmakers, that the film always retains its dignity.
Eastwood's John McBurney is like no other character he has ever played. McBurney is an amoral, conniving, and lustful charlatan. He knows that most of the women, even the youngest want his bod, and he lets more than one of them have a shot at him. McBurney often uses flattery to butter the women up, then uses his rugged good looks to reel them in. He is like a drunken player at a cocktail party, often hitting on different women even in the same scene! Eventually, his lustful ways cause him great agony and loss in a way you must see for yourselves. This author would not dream of revealing the specific consequences of his actions, but there is little doubt he has them coming.
Eastwood gives a typically great performance. He seems to be having a blast with the role until things turn really ugly, then he turns mean and ugly. Geraldine Page is a treat as the steely B*tch who runs the school. We know she wants McBurney as much as the other girls, but with her checkered past shown to us in flashbacks, we find out that isn't all she's after! Mae Mercer as a slave belonging to the school gives a great performance, too. She obviously knows McBurney is a skunk from the beginning, and she never lets his phony charm bring her guard down. This is a character you will want to know more about after the film is over. She seems to have a greater knowledge of the world than anyone else in the film.
The Beguiled did poorly in its theatrical release. Nobody was quite sure what to make of it, and some of its content no doubt raised a few eyebrows in 1971. For example, in an early scene we see Eastwood romantically kiss a 12-yr-old girl. Is he just trying to keep her quiet when the rebel soldiers get close, or is he really enjoying it? Probably both! A fantasy sequence later on even shows Clint getting it on with not only Page, but her young assistant! Truly some interesting goings on in this one. It's a good thing Eastwood became the star he did, or this one might have been long forgotten.
Highly recommended. 9 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
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- Dec 2, 2006
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,100,000
- Gross worldwide
- $1,113,069
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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