Tropic of Cancer (1970) YIFY - Download Movie TORRENT

Reviewed by filmreviewradical 6 / 10

Opening with a shot of a bidet...and it's downhill all the way from there.

By Henry Miller. This feature film released in 1970 (and shot in attractive Paris locations in the summer of 1969) came out around the same time as the Danish film 'Quiet Days in Clichy', both of which are based on autobiographical novels by Henry Miller (a U. S. ex-pat writer living in Paris in the 1930s), chronicling his activities in the 'City of Light' during the period both literary and amorous. Producer/director Joseph Strick's film (which like 'Quiet Days' updates the novel to the present and concentrates on Miller's kerb crawling more than his writing) perhaps suitably opens with a shot of a bidet at work, and it's downhill all the way from there. The rambling plot features Rip Torn as Miller recieving a visit from his wife Mona (Ellen Burstyn - whose name seems to have disappeared from the film's credits - it's that full frontal nude scene wot done it, perhaps), who is unimpressed with his lifestyle, hygiene and choice of hotels (she gets nits when she stays in one) and does a runner back to the U. S. This leads to more wandering around thinking to himself (which we get to hear), borrowing money off people, schemes to keep hunger at bay, becoming a comical school teacher in Dijon (with classes on animal sexuality), acting as a brothel guide, stealing money from a prostitute and being gleeful about it, and trying to help a friend faced with the threat of marriage. The screenplay from Strick and Betty Botley features unsympathetic characters (in particular Miller as the egocentric, misogynistic hypocrite, and accomplished liar, amongst other things, whose philosophy of life seems at odds with his behaviour), nudity and graphic language, and all told from the perspective of Miller (which means the truth may well be even worse!). Not bad as drama (of the tragic comic variety), with sunny shots of Paris, and Sheila Steafel (who gives possibly the performance of the film as Tania), as well as some apples and oranges.

Reviewed by Scoopy

Interesting, but unfocused

In order to appreciate Henry Miller's style, it is essential to get a feel for the juxtaposition of his elegant, often heartfelt prose, and the profane nature of his subject matter. He is the modern Catullus, the poet not of "lovemaking" but of the joys of flat-out *****ing.The movie had difficulty synthesizing this sense of sacred and profane in harmony. It tried now with a Rip Torn overvoice reading from Miller's work, then with some poetic shots of the beauty of Paris. It never really seemed to succeed.The movie could never find anything to focus on. It represents a string of vignettes, and they don't seem to lead to any common goal. Many scenes seem to concentrate on the minor characters for much too long, and without apparent purpose. Such picaresque efforts rely on the charm of characterization for impact, and this film has some of that, but not enough. It's structured as if somebody said "let's make a film of Tropic of Cancer" without actually feeling any passion for why they wanted to do that.It was certainly interesting to see Rip Torn so young and so good-looking, and to see Ellen Burstyn in such a flagrant display of nudity. Some of the locales are accurately evocative, and Torn is reasonably credible in the lead. It is fairly explicit in the sexual scenes, and extremely explicit in its use of language.You could watch it and not feel you've wasted your time, but be advised that you won't feel much rewarded, either.

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Tropic of Cancer

1970

Biography / Drama

Tropic of Cancer

1970

Biography / Drama

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Opening with a shot of a bidet...and it's downhill all the way from there.

Interesting, but unfocused

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