The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961)

Plot: A middle-aged Widow becomes involved with an Italian Gigolo.  Based on the Tennessee Williams Novella.
Stars:  Vivien Leigh,  Warren Beatty, Lotta Lenya

Watching this, I  felt sorry for Vivien Leigh. What a waste of a great actress! She brings some authenticity to this gloomy piece of piffle, but she gets little support from the Script or the Director. Her character is a dumbed-down Blanche Dubois, a one-note johnny: pathetic, depressed, and headed for a bad end. The other actors? Only two have significant parts.  First, Lenya is suitably reptilian -as the corrupt Countess.  But then we come to Warren Beatty...

Warren Beatty.  No doubt realizing he's completely miscast, and his wavering "Chef Boyardee" Italian accent ridiculous, Beatty repeatably looks away from the camera and sleepwalks through the part. His presence constantly pulled me out of the story.  How could anyone buy All-American Warren Beatty as an Italian?

Summary:  Ultimately, the only reason to see the movie is Vivien Leigh. The story is dull and depressing**. Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone adapts a Tennessee Williams' novella - not a drama -  and maybe that's the problem.  We're missing the poetic language and interesting/energetic characters present in Williams' plays***. Add in a terrible Warren Beatty performance and you have one mediocre movie.  Rating 2 of 4

Notes
** = Its also somewhat dated.  Mrs. Stone is only 50, and she's intelligent, good looking, and wealthy.  Yet, the movie treats her like an ancient crone whose life is at an end.  No doubt that was believable in 1961 - but today? We have 70 y/o rock n' rollers (not that I approve!)

*** = The novella is a character study of an unlikable faded beauty and ex-actress.  Its a cautionary tale since she's relied on her looks/show-biz sucess to play "King of the Mountain" and with those gone, she  has "drifted" and turns to Roman gigolos.. There's surprisingly little dialogue.  For the film,  Mrs. Stone has to be made more likable (which defeats the purpose) and everyone else given more  depth. This probably accounts for the dullness of the dialogue.