this is my first time seeing this movie and i thought it was terrific! the oldies are the best!
however i have a question. why does Nicholas push franchesca away when she hugs him(after he's enrolled her in college) and then runs away for three months?
Nicholas, for all the control he has over Francesca in her early life and his seemingly austere outlook, is really an emotional mess. I believe at that stage in Francesca's life Nicholas was already deeply in love with her, yet his problems with women in general (his mother leaving him and his father and running off with another man) and his fear of getting hurt again prevent him from openly expressing his love. And leaving for three months...I believe he was both ashamed of his reaction to Francesca's normal, child-like way of thankyou and his own fears of letting his guard down.
I hope that made some sense...lol. Basically, Nicholas seems to only care about Francesca's music, yet underneath all his emotional problems he deeply, sincerely loves her.
"I need him like the axe needs the turkey."
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thanks for the response!
shareThat is an exceptionally good analysis of Nicholas' feelings. +10!
And I might add, Nicholas has to be extremely sexually frustrated (though also highly repressed), and he was confused and angry about his budding erotic fixation on his pupil.
Movie girl: Well said, but emotions were involved as well.
shareMovie girl: Your welcome! I've loved this film since I was 11 or 12 and first
saw it on TV with Mom and my big sister. I love the romantic involvement which
eventually ensues!
it's been a favorite of mine since I was a child. I loved the fact that the protagonist was named Francesca, my name.
shareMovie girl: THat's very nice. I like that name too. Great film. Nicholas sure
backed away when she automatically hugged him as a thank you for her college. He didn't want to get involved with any women at that time because of his mother running off. I have loved the film since childhood also and watch frequently!
I just watched a special on James Mason, the actor who portrayed Nicholas. Fascinating interviews with the man who changed the face of the anti-hero in British films by being dark, taciturn and sexy. He made Nicholas sympathetic and I wanted them together. In the original ending, she picks the bandleader, but Mason convinced them that she would pick Nicholas. He was right.
shareMovie girl: I am a big Mason fan too, since I was very young watching The Seventh Veil on TV. Yes, he was quite alluring and charming, Though dark, taciturn and sexy as they say. I did want Francesca to pick Nicholas and did not know the band-leader Peter might have ended up with her. But we knew that she would pick the right one!
shareWhat special? Where? I'm interested in all things Mason.
shareMovie girl: Great interpretation here too~ A classy film, well-expressed.
shareMovie girl: I think it means Francesca suddenly attracted Nicholas and he did not
want to get attached to any girl; no romantic involvements. So she would not misunderstand he made it clear this way.