LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Whitech It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

calvinnme It's easy to see why 1959 critics called it "muddled". The film, which is set in South America's jungles, manages to be an ecological statement (man should take care of his surroundings), a love story, a tale of redemption (in the film's first ten minutes, Abel (Anthony Perkins) sees his father killed and vows vengeance on the killers. Audrey Hepburn as Rima does her utmost in a near impossible part. Lee J. Cobb overacts as Rima's protector.MGM spent over one million dollars (a great deal of money in 1959) getting shots of South America to mix in with the main filming done on MGM's back lot. The mixing in of the shots is well done, but it's obvious what was shot at MGM and what were the South American jungle shots. Perkins is the voice of sanity in the film, because whenever the plot threatens to get too wispy, he brings it back down to earth. He has a scene where he serenades Rima with his lovely tenor voice. It was a pity that he was never in a film musical.If the film has a message it seems to be that true love never dies.

trescher I saw this film when I was 13 years old, and I still remember the steamy misty jungle and the almost magical lighting. I don't remember much of the plot, but the cinematography obviously made a lasting impression. I remember Audrey Hepburn as innocent and one with her surroundings. It was so enchanting, i just wanted to dive into the screen and live among all that beautiful greenery. The impact of the film was more visceral than intellectual, and, for me, it was very effective in creating a mood, a milieu and an ambiance. Although it's been almost half a century since I first saw this film, I still vividly remember those "green mansions". If the intent of the film was to tell a story or to showcase its stars, then it may have fallen short. But if it sought to transport its viewers into an enchanted green jungle, then my lasting recollections are a testament to its success.

FloatingOpera7 Green Mansions (1957): Starring Anthony Perkins, Audrey Hepburn, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Silva, Sessue Hayakawa, Nehemiah Persoff, Estelle Hemsley, Michael Pate, Bill Saito, Yoneo Iguchi...Director Mel Ferrer...Screenplay Dorothy Kingsley.Based on the obscure turn of the century novel by William Henry Hudson, "Green Mansions" was the work of director Mel Ferrer, who found the part romance/part escapist adventure novel suitable to film. Released in 1959, this know forgotten film might have not been the least bit successful had it not been for the star power of Audrey Hepburn. She was married to Mel Ferrer at the time. Mel Ferrer had a long career in Hollywood and mostly as an actor (War And Peace, The Fall Of The Roman Empire, etc). As for Audrey Hepburn; by the end of the 50's, she had already won an Oscar (Roman Holiday '53) and won audiences in such films as "Sabrina" ('54) and Funny Face (57). Audiences flocked to see her films. "Green Mansions" was Audrey Hepburn's second stray into more serious , dramatic, diverse repertoire, "War And Peace" being her first. When audiences saw her leap from jungle trees, clad in an ugly potato sack-looking thing, she was performing a role as far away from the attractive, glamorous girls she had previously portrayed. The movies which followed this film would reveal her versatility as an actress. Anthony Perkins (better known for his 1960 film "Psycho") portrays Abel, a young man whose father had been killed for his political stance in a dangerous Venezuelan community. Abel, threatened by the same fate, escapes into the immense South American jungle. Here he meets the old hermit Nuflo and his ward, the exotic jungle-bred Rima (Hepburn). The local natives eventually discover Abel and his life is threatened once more. But now, he has fallen for Rima and the locals begin to turn on her as well. This is a long, slow-moving film that relies mostly on character-driven performance. While it's not really a great film (if it was, it would'nt be so obscure) it does capture the spirit of the turn of the century novel by William Henry Hudson. Lots of well-written dialog, especially between Hepburn and Perkins. They get a lot of screen time because the cast is minimal (10 actors). The first film to be made in the new Panavision, the film was gorgeous to look at when it was released. Vast panoramas of thick South American jungle, waterfalls and villages, just as they were described in the Hudson novel, came to vivid life. This is a fine film and Hepburn, although not delivering the performance of her life, is wonderful and her chemistry with Anthony Perkins is superb. Perkins was relatively unknown at the time but already he showed signs of a great if subtle actor. Overall, a great film and a great-looking film. The magic realism of the original novel may be stripped away but not the magic. Because this is the first film to be shot in Panavision, it's a valuable treasure of a film. Panavision would replace Cinemascope and great films would be shot in Panavision well into the 1970's. Among these films include "Lawrence of Arabia", "Fall of the Roman Empire" and "Doctor Zhivago."

devdshearer This film from 1959 still remains, to me, of what movies used to be. Not jammed full of violence, sexual situations and high tech computer/animation skills. Just a simple story with wonderful cast members. Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins left us with a wonderful film that the entire family can enjoy. Anthony Perkins should be remembered for much more than his role in "psycho". Audrey Hepburn's legacy is somewhat richer than his, but together in this film they leave a wonderful memory of what once was. Forget that it is not "high tech". Just allow yourself to remember all the great old films that are still out there.