By today’s standards,
Reflections
In A Golden Eye seems repressed, even humorous at times. But major
Hollywood figures such as Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, and director John
Huston risked damage to their legendary careers to bring this story of
repressed homosexuality and sexual dysfunction to movie theaters in 1967. And
that deserves respect.

Reflections stars Brando as a closeted southern military officer named Weldon Penderton.
You can imagine how difficult if would be to imitate his voice in this role.
Elizabeth Taylor plays Leonora Penderton, his cheating southern belle wife, and
she sinks her teeth deeply into this Tennessee Williams-style role, nude scenes
and all. Added to this is local hero Robert Forester in his first major film
appearance. His mesmerizing portrayal of a gay private, the focus of
Penderton’s obsession, is not to be missed.

When not on duty,
Private Williams spends his time flirting with Brando, sneaking into his house
to smell Mrs. Penderton’s undergarments, and horseback riding in the nude.
Leonora is cheating with the neighboring colonel, played slyly by Brian Keith.
The colonel is Penderton’s friend and superior officer, but that doesn’t stop
his encounters with Leonora. The colonel’s wife, played with great passion by
Julie Harris, is aware of the affair and vents her frustrations through
self-mutilation. Her only comfort is listening to the stories of her openly
homosexual houseboy. David Zorro plays Anacleto, the annoying, overly flamboyant
servant who is often incomprehensible.

Obviously, there’s a
lot going on here. It just takes forever to get there. Huston’s pacing, at
least when compared to the frenetic pacing of today’s films, is as languid and
well-mannered as Brando’s southern drawl. But when things heat up between
Penderton and Williams — as in one moment when Penderton finds Williams alone
in the woods during one of the private’s bareback rides — the scene cuts out
and we miss the encounter.

Focusing on the
film’s cultural and cinematic significance ignores the fact that Reflections In A Golden Eye contains
many endearing and entertaining moments. The characters are skillfully
portrayed by legendary actors, and the last half-hour of the film brings forth
several tense and dramatic moments. Huston shows his greatness during an action
scene in which Brando loses control of his horse. The master director delivers
the moment in a way that tops any modern action director.

The central story,
Penderton’s slowly burning passion for the young private, seems as relevant and
realistic as any contemporary movie on the same subject. The problem facing the
film is that the filmmakers couldn’t take that story anywhere. Everything remains
subverted until the ending scene. I won’t give it away, but Huston’s choice of
camera movement on the final shot makes the ending almost laughable.

Reflections in a Golden Eye screens Monday, October 11, in the Dryden Theatre, 7 p.m.
Info: 271-2640, www.imageout.org.

— Matthew Ehlers

This article appears in Oct 6-12, 2004.