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The Sound and the Fury

The Sound and the Fury

  • Status: Released
  • 27-03-1959
  • Runtime: 110 min
  • Score: 6.6
  • Vote count: 15

Drama focusing on a family of Southern aristocrats who are trying to deal with the dissolution of their clan and the loss of its reputation, faith, fortunes and respect.

Yul Brynner

Jason Compson

Joanne Woodward

Quentin Compson / Narrator

Margaret Leighton

Caddy Compson

Stuart Whitman

Charlie Busch

Ethel Waters

Dilsey

Jack Warden

Ben Compson

Albert Dekker

Earl Snopes

John Beal

Howard Compson

Françoise Rosay

Caroline Compson

Steven Perry

Luster

Bill Gunn

T.P.

Roy Glenn

Job

Jean Carson

Mary Ellen (uncredited)

William Challee

Roustabout (uncredited)

Esther Dale

Mrs. Maud Mansfield

Walt Davis

Townsman (uncredited)

Gary Diamond

Boy (uncredited)

Minta Durfee

Townswoman (uncredited)

Sam Gilman

Bus Driver (uncredited)

Buddy Joe Hooker

Boy (uncredited)

Eugene Jackson

Townsman (uncredited)

Emerson Treacy

Selby (uncredited)

Michael Jeffers

Townsman (uncredited)

Thaddeus Jones

Reverend Shegog (uncredited)

Jay Loft-Lynn

Townsman (uncredited)

Adrienne Marden

Effie Mansfield (uncredited)

Jeffrey Sayre

Townsman (uncredited)

Eddie Smith

Townsman (uncredited)

William Stevens

Roustabout (uncredited)

Sid Troy

Townsman (uncredited)

Robert B. Williams

Carnival Manager (uncredited)

Sally Yarnell

Townswoman (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

Well the principal casting here is quite bizarre. It's really Yul Brynner who struggles to convince as the Russian-born, adopted, head of the "Compson" family - a supposed southern states gentleman having to come to terms with the fairly profound changes in the local hierarchy and in their own personal, dwindling, fortunes. Despite the fact that most of the rest of this family have long given up and taken to the bottle or just cannot cope with the realities, he is still determined to restore things to a semblance of their former glory. To that end he shares a vision with his niece "Quentin" (Joanne Woodward). She was abandoned by her mother - his flighty sister "Caddy" (Margaret Leighton) - at birth and so has developed an embittered but determined independent steak - and that comes with flaws and numerous errors of judgement! "Compson" is resolved to keep her from both predators and from herself - and a clash of personalities is soon looming! The story here is really quite derivative and the characterisations lightweight, delivering a story that has all the ingredients of a smouldering tale of the American south, but rather forgets to light the fire. Leighton delivers quite strongly here, I thought, as does an on-form Woodward - but in isolation they can't really rescue this from it's over-scripted doldrums. Great title but it disappoints, sorry.