“Bobby Deerfield” is a 1977 film about a Formula One driver who learns that life is not just about winning races. He falls in love with a terminally ill woman and must accept the inevitability of her death. The film uses beautiful cinematography and metaphorical imagery to convey the emotional turmoil of the characters. The story is simple but poignant, and the performances are top-notch. Overall, “Bobby Deerfield” is an understated gem that deserves more recognition.
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Review
In 1977, Sydney Pollack released a movie that was not well received by the critics and did poorly at the box office. The movie was “Bobby Deerfield”, starring a young Al Pacino as the titular character. However, sometimes movies that are not appreciated by the critics in their time can become classics later on. This is exactly what happened with “Bobby Deerfield”. Upon re-watching it recently, I realized that this movie has many hidden gems that have been overlooked for too long.
The storyline of “Bobby Deerfield” revolves around Bobby, a Formula One driver who falls in love with a terminally ill woman named Lillian, played by Marthe Keller. The plot is simple yet compelling as we see Bobby struggle with his own emotions and mortality while trying to make sense of Lillian’s illness.
One of the most interesting facts about “Bobby Deerfield” is that it was based on a book called “Heaven Has No Favorites” by Erich Maria Remarque. The book tells the story of a Grand Prix driver who falls in love with a terminally ill woman, much like the movie. However, Pollack took some creative liberties and changed certain aspects of the story to make it more cinematic.
The cast of “Bobby Deerfield” is impressive and includes actors like Pacino, Keller, and Anny Duperey. Pacino’s performance as Bobby is nuanced and subtle, showing his range as an actor beyond his more famous roles like Michael Corleone in “The Godfather”. Keller also delivers an impressive performance as Lillian, showcasing her ability to convey depth and emotion even while playing a character that can be seen as somewhat one-dimensional.
The history of “Bobby Deerfield” is interesting because it came at a time when Hollywood was churning out formulaic blockbusters left and right. The fact that Pollack tackled such a sensitive and low-key subject matter is admirable. However, the movie suffered at the box office due to its lack of action scenes and star power.
The score of “Bobby Deerfield” was composed by Dave Grusin, who won an Academy Award for his work on another Pollack movie, “The Milagro Beanfield War”. The score complements the movie perfectly, adding to its emotional resonance without overpowering it.
Although the movie was not successful in its initial release, it has since gained a following and admiration from film critics. The New York Times called it a “small but noble film”, praising Pacino’s performance as “one of his most understated and effective performances.”
The cinematography in “Bobby Deerfield” is simple yet effective. The use of natural light and outdoor locations adds to the authenticity of the story. One standout scene is when Bobby and Lillian visit a small village in Italy and attend a local festival. The scene is shot beautifully, with bright colors and lively music capturing the joy and vibrancy of the event.
In terms of awards, “Bobby Deerfield” was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards – one for Pacino’s performance and one for Best Original Song for Dave Grusin’s “Stay”. Although it didn’t win any awards, its nomination speaks to its quality.
In terms of production, “Bobby Deerfield” had a troubled shoot due to creative differences between Pollack and Pacino. However, this tension seems to have added an extra layer of depth to Pacino’s portrayal of Bobby.
One standout aspect of “Bobby Deerfield” is its dialogue. The conversations between Bobby and Lillian are raw yet poetic at times. They discuss life, death, love, and everything in between with honesty and vulnerability.
Criticisms of “Bobby Deerfield” mostly stem from its slow pace and lack of action scenes. However, these criticisms miss the point of the movie, which is to tackle complex emotions and themes with subtlety and nuance.
One interesting tidbit about “Bobby Deerfield” is that it was partially filmed at the real-life Monza racetrack in Italy. This adds an extra layer of authenticity to the racing scenes.
The soundtracks in “Bobby Deerfield” also deserve mention as they contribute significantly to the movie’s emotional impact. The use of classical music like Mozart’s Requiem adds a mournful yet beautiful quality to Lillian’s illness.
The special effects in “Bobby Deerfield” are minimal but effective when used. For example, the scenes where Lillian undergoes medical treatment are shot in a way that emphasizes her vulnerability and fragility.
Overall, “Bobby Deerfield” is an underrated gem that deserves a second look. Its subtle storytelling, nuanced performances, and emotional resonance make it stand out from other movies of its time. It may not be a perfect movie, but its imperfections only add to its charm and authenticity.
Technical Data
- Release : 1977-09-27
- Runtime : 124
- Genre : Drama, Romance
- Cast : Al Pacino as Bobby, Marthe Keller as Lillian, Anny Duperey as Lydia, Walter McGinn as The Brother, Romolo Valli as Uncle Luigi
- Crew : Erich Maria Remarque as Novel, Henri Decaë as Director of Photography, Sydney Pollack as Director, Sydney Pollack as Producer, Alvin Sargent as Screenplay
- Revenue : 0
- Budget : 0
- Company : First Artists, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
- Popularity : 8.623
- Summary : Bobby Deerfield, a famous American race car driver on the European circuit, falls in love with the enigmatic Lillian Morelli, who is terminally ill.
- Tagline : He had to meet her – to find himself!
