I finished reading the painted veil and felt a little let down. Jan 19, 2007 positive the painted veil was a truly beautiful film. There are many changes, but both the book and the film are exquisite works in themselves. Who is the father of kittys child at the end of the painted. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the. Apr 22, 2018 the ending is a bit of a let down the 2006 movie adaptation starring edward norton and naomi watts is much better, but on the whole the painted veil is a compelling tale of love, betrayal, revenge and redemption and confirms maugham as one of my favourite writers. Her philosophical journey is about half a mile from not caring for anyone but herself to believing she can raise her own daughter differently. It depicts historic events with great accuracy, and the sceneries in the film were breathtaking. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles this is the third film adaptation of the maugham book, following the samenamed 1934 film starring greta garbo and.
I remember watching once the razors edge from the mid 1940s, filmed immediately after the publishing of the novel. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The film chronicles the relationship of walter and kitty fane as they battle an outbreak of cholera in a remote chinese village in the 1920s and seek to restore their marriage. Apart from that, i thought nothing of him as a character. The main thrust of the book is kittys transformation after she and walter husband move to a cholerastricken region and she volunteers in a.
Dec 21, 2006 the painted veil is a love story in reverse. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the two. This is the third film adaptation of the maugham book. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925.
The painted veil is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane, who marries for money rather than love. Sep 28, 2012 it was silly of us to look for qualities in each other that we never had. The painted veil 2006 is an adaptation of the novel by w. I try to write about films within 48 hours of viewing them, but with one thing and another, it took me almost a week to get around to the painted veil, and this i think is a good thing, because immediately after viewing it, i was under the distinct impression that it was a great deal more interesting than is actually the case. The 2006 movie starring naomi watts and edward norton is very pretty.
The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. Jun 07, 2012 the painted veil william somerset maugham this is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page. Craddock, another work by maugham, the character of bertha vaguely reminds me of kitty. The two leads were passionate about the project with both naomi watts and edward norton choosing to produce the film.
Is it supposed to be ambiguous whether walter or charlie was the father, or do you have reason to believe that its one or the other. I think he is a brilliant actor and he came through again in painted veil. My main disappointment is that i never could feel any emotion for kitty. The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w. The painted veil is simple, well told and enjoyable, but i wish there had been more descriptions of this area of china and its people. I admired the potraiture of people as people complex. With naomi watts, edward norton, liev schreiber, catherine an. Aug 18, 2017 the painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. One of the few occasions where i prefer the movie over the book. Nov 02, 2007 we see kitty and her fiveyearold boy at the end of the painted veil, but earlier in the film she told walter she didnt know who the father was. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The biographer richard cordell notes that the book was influenced by maughams study of science and his work as a houseman at st thomas hospital. The painted veil william somerset maugham this is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page.
Somerset maughams classic the painted veil, the first thought that came into my head after finishing the book is that this is a masterpiece that absolutely deserves nothing less than 5 stars. Positive the painted veil was a truly beautiful film. When her younger sister announces her own engagement to a prosperous duke, kitty panics and accepts the proposal of the very quiet, very shy, dr. But john currans version is both lush and intimate, a showcase for subtle performances in which china becomes an exotic backdrop for white folks troubles.
From all the posts im reading here, i think i would prefer the movie the painted veil to the book too. Not that it was extremely boring though it kinda was, i just. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, this beautifully written character study is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. The painted veil has the ingredients of a great film, including cinematography alternatively lush and parched and highcaliber actors. The painted veil is the sort of moviestar vehicle that usually provides for outsized, capital a acting. From all the posts im reading here, i think i would prefer the. While the chinese characters remain mostly anonymous, either children or suffering disease victims, kitty and walters exclusive.
Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Somerset maughams 1925 novel the painted veil, previously filmed rather beautifully in 1934 starring greta garbo and indifferently in 1957 as the seventh sin, is the tale of kitty naomi watts. Somerset maugham book, movie and radio program on the steamer that took them up the western river walter read incessantly, but at mealtimes he endeavored to make some kind of conversation. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. In my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. Its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Naomi watts and john curran interviewed the painted veil. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. Somerset maugham, which followed the disillusionment and growth of a shallow young socialite named kitty fane. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles.
My feeling is that he was better than good he was great. A british medical doctor fights a cholera epidemic in a small chinese village, while being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife. I think he is a brilliant actor and he came through again in. Apr 17, 2016 the storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. First published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. Somerset maugham this study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the painted veil. Im quite stingy when it comes to rating books and normally would not give more than 4 stars, even for a book i thoroughly enjoyed. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. Ending spoiler for the painted veil 2006, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Walter and kitty fane into rural china of 1925 with a cholera epidemic while simultaneously taking us into the wasteland of kittys heart. The main thrust of the book is kittys transformation after she and walter husband move to a cholerastricken region and she volunteers in a conventhospital. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young. Aug 20, 2009 the painted veil was definitely great, changed in a skilfull way but no so much and beautiful in its own, rather different than the novel, way.
Stripped of the british society of her youth and the small but effective society she fought so hard to attain in hong kong, she is compelled by her awakening. The painted veil 2006 i was surprised to learn from wikipedia that there had been two movie versions of the painted veil before this one, including a 1934 film starring greta garbo. I liked the book much much better than the movie as the novel reveals the complexity of kittys emotions. Jan 24, 2015 i liked the book much much better than the movie as the novel reveals the complexity of kittys emotions. Having now seen the movie i have to say, no matter what you thought of the book, the movie is worth seeing. Book, movie and radio program all recommended i dont know what it is about this story that i love, but i found the idea fascinating, the characters interesting and welldeveloped and the portrayal very beautifully. The ending is a bit of a let down the 2006 movie adaptation starring edward norton and naomi watts is much better, but on the whole the painted veil is a compelling tale of love, betrayal, revenge and redemption and confirms maugham as one of my favourite writers. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. First of all, you never have to twist my arm too bad to have me watch anything with edward norton in it. Im pretty sure i have never read a book so depressing and yet so interesting as this book. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. It was silly of us to look for qualities in each other that we never had. This summary of the painted veil includes a complete plot overview spoilers included.
Somerset maughams novel the painted veil doesnt happen in the book. The painted veil succeeds brilliantly on two levels. Most probably know of this book due to the 2006 adaptation of it starring naomi watts and edward norton ive seen parts of the movie, so i knew the basic plot, but not the details. Mar 12, 2020 the painted veil book vs movie janet cheng in literature on 12 march, 2020. Somerset maugham novel was the source for the fairtomiddling greta garbo vehicle the painted veil. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 eponymous novel by w. Jun 07, 2007 i finished reading the painted veil and felt a little let down.
Though i think kitty on the whole is a more interesting character and the painted veil a more compelling novel. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1. With the exception of a few changes, the film remains relatively close to the source material. The painted veil chapters 17 summary and analysis gradesaver.
The painted veil book vs movie janet cheng in literature on 12 march, 2020. He also doesnt soften the fact that walter was a vindictive jerk. May 04, 2011 in my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. He made no further claim for himself than that he was a good storyteller. There were major changes to the plot, especially to the ending, that i thought were improvements from the book. Having said that, i dont mind the end of the book because i felt like maugham didnt do something unrealistic to kittys character. In a situation comparable to the plotlines of most of her silent films, garbo is. As the film progresses, one learns to see life though both kittys and her husbands eyes. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. The painted veil original motion picture soundtrack. Obviously then, i wasted no time in buying somerset maughams the painted veil to see how differently the filmmakers had interpreted the story.
I think by tomorrow i will have forgotten most of the plot of the painted veil. I read the horse whisperer and thought it was a good book, but when i saw the movie i thought it was better. Published november 14th 2006 by vintage first published april 1925 more details. May 04, 20 in regards to charles townsend, kittys lover, in the book i thought him to be a character similar to jack favell from rebecca. In the book his story isnt really tied up yes, we see that he has used kitty again and doesnt care about her. Dec 20, 2006 its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w.
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