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Darling

Darling

  • Status: Released
  • 03-08-1965
  • Runtime: 122 min
  • Score: 6.7
  • Vote count: 130

The swinging London, early sixties. Beautiful but shallow, Diana Scott is a professional advertising model, a failed actress, a vocationally bored woman, who toys with the affections of several men while gaining fame and fortune.

Julie Christie

Diana Scott

Dirk Bogarde

Robert Gold

Laurence Harvey

Miles Brand

José Luis de Vilallonga

Prince Cesare della Romita

Roland Curram

Malcolm

Basil Henson

Alec Prosser-Jones

Dante Posani

Gino

Umberto Raho

Signor Palucci

Alex Scott

Sean Martin

Brian Wilde

Basil Willett

Peter Bayliss

Lord Alex Grant

T.R. Bowen

Tony Bridges (as Trevor Bowen)

Georgina Cookson

Carlotta Hale

James Cossins

Mr. Basildon

Helen Lindsay

Felicity Prosser-Jones

Carlo Palmucci

Curzio della Romita

Ernest Walder

Kurt

Pauline Yates

Estelle Gold

Richard Bidlake

Rupert Crabtree

Annette Carell

Billie Castiglione

Jean Claudio

Raoul Maxim

Jane Downs

Julie (as Jane Downes)

Marika Rivera

Paris Party Host

Lucille Soong

Allie (uncredited)

Lydia Sherwood

Lady Brentwood (uncredited)

Ann Firbank

Sybil Martin (uncredited)

Tyler Butterworth

William Prosser-Jones (uncredited)

Vernon Dobtcheff

Art Critic at Ralph Riggs Exposure (uncredited)

John Schlesinger

Theatre Director (uncredited)

Silvia Dionisio

Prince Cesare della Romita's Daughter (uncredited)

Victor Harrington

Functionary at Charity Event (uncredited)

Derek Aylward

Party Guest (uncredited)

Zakes Mokae

Black Man at French Party (uncredited)

David Harrison

Charles Glass (uncredited)

Sidonie Bond

Gillian (uncredited)

Margaret Gordon

Helen Dawlish (uncredited)

Angus MacKay

Ivor Dawlish (uncredited)

Jane Pearl

Jane (uncredited)

Irene Richmond

Mrs. Glass (uncredited)

Hugo Dyson

Walter Southgate (uncredited)

Christopher Greatorex

Art Critic at Ralph Riggs Exposure (uncredited)

Hyma Beckley

Guest at Art Gallery Viewing (uncredited)

Nicholas Wright

Young Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)

John Woodvine

Customs Officer (uncredited)

Helen Stirling

Governess to Cesare Family (uncredited)

Ernest Blyth

Man at Airport (uncredited)

John Tatum

Man at Tube Station (uncredited)

Roy Lansford

Party Guest (uncredited)

Noel Davis

Shop Assistant (uncredited)

Peter Avella

Reporter (uncredited)

Jimmy Charters

Man on Tube Station Escalator (uncredited)

Mike Edmonds

Man in Street (uncredited)

Peter Evans

Man at Charity Raffle (uncredited)

Eden Fox

Waiter (uncredited)

Otto Friese

Man in Street (uncredited)

Sheila Gish

Cameo (uncredited)

Lew Hooper

Model Agency Staff (uncredited)

Gerry Judge

Waiter (uncredited)

Anthony Lang

Man at Airport (uncredited)

Pat Lewis

Woman at Airport (uncredited)

Leonard Llewellyn

Model Agency Staff / Airline Passenger (uncredited)

Ray Lovelock

Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Jack Mandeville

Tube Passenger (uncredited)

Mary Maxfield

Lady at Charity Raffle (uncredited)

Brian Moorehead

Leslie Page (uncredited)

Bob Raymond

Waiter / Porter (uncredited)

Arnold Schulkes

Mourner (uncredited)

Frank Shelley

Father Norton (uncredited)

Esme Smythe

Art Gallery Guest (uncredited)

Philip Stewart

Guest at Art Gallery Viewing (uncredited)

Graham Tonbridge

Art Gallery Guest (uncredited)

George Oliver

Tube Passenger (uncredited)

Ian Selby

Model Agency Staff (uncredited)

Nutshell

A sometimes interesting character study of a young actress / model and her downward spiral in 1960s London. Good performances all around, but no likeable characters at all. Possibly good fare for a rainy Saturday afternoon.

CinemaSerf

Julie Christie is on top form as the determined "Diana". She is an attractive aspiring model and nothing is going to stop her reaching her goals - fame and fortune! She is married and initially in love with "Tony" (TR Bowen) but a chance interview with "Gold" (Dirk Bogarde) offers her new opportunities and horizons and soon they are adulterers together! Not for long though, he introduces her her to "Brand" (Laurence Harvey) and, well you get the drift. Finally, she ends up in a bit of a shell marriage to the Prince Cesare (José Luis de Vilallonga) and it is at this point she gives the interview that provides us with this retrospective of her life that is largely told via flashback. John Schlesinger works his cast really well here and together with a cleverly constructed screenplay from Frederic Raphael; some creative photography from Ken Higgins and some stylish fashions courtesy of Julie Harris offers us a potent insight into the vanity and shallowness of industries where people are commodities, and those who use and abuse it (on both sides) are only ever one step away from depression and failure. It is too long, and the story can be a little sluggish at times, but Christie is an excellent choice for "Diana" and she throws her heart and soul into her characterisation. It's still apposite almost sixty years later - and sends a salutary message to anyone who might think there are any easy wins in this hard-as-nails business that rarely values loyalty or longevity.