Becky Sharp

• Miriam Hopkins: Becky Sharp
• Frances Dee: Amelia Sedley
• Cedric Hardwicke: Marquis of Steyne
• Billie Burke: Lady Bareacres
• Alison Skipworth: Miss Crawley

Becky Sharp is an American historical film from 1935, based on parts of the novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. It is the first full-length feature film, which was shot entirely in the newly developed 3-color Technicolor. The main role of the anti- heroine Becky Sharp plays Miriam Hopkins, directed by Rouben Mamoulian. The film was a financial failure and solved, contrary to the hopes of the producers no boom of the paint film from.

Action

In 1800, leaves the orphan Becky Sharp no stone unturned to create the social advancement. It uses the good nature of their faithful and wealthy friend Amelia Sedley shamelessly, but fails in its attempt to seduce Amelia's brother Joseph and marry. Disappointed is Becky as governess to Sir Pitt Crawley eccentric, where she attracts the impoverished but charming son Rawdon Crawley, an officer and bon vivant in the marriage. In the aftermath Becky manages, thanks to their charm to capture the leaders of society for themselves. She gets more and more into favor, and is about to take the throne for himself, as its decline takes its course. The things accumulate on the evening before the battle of Waterloo. Becky, who holds with her husband in Brussels brilliant court, trying to pay the high her ​​husband's gambling debts, while she gives herself the depraved Lord Styne. Then, suddenly, Rawdon stands in the doorway of the booths and the subsequent scandal leaves Becky with no husband and no money, scorned by society back. She sinks deeper and deeper to land at the end in a cheap guest house. Only at the end will be saved from disgrace, as you can get some money a distant relative. Becky will pay back their debts and can finally go to India, where Amelia's brother Joseph eagerly waiting for them.

Background

The technical conditions for the production of color films were prepared since 1928 in principle. In particular, the company Technicolor promoted the development so that it soon became the market leader for the necessary technical equipment in this segment were. The so-called " second subtractive Technicolor process (also 2-color Technicolor ) " was a precursor to full-fledged "real 3-color Technicolor ". He worked with the colors cyan and magenta. By 1934, there were about 78 productions, of which, however, a large part contained only single color sequences. Popular movies from this early period of the color film was the horror film The Mystery of the Wax Museum in 1933 and the elaborate musical revue King of Jazz from the year 1930. The for the viewer relatively unnatural and artificial shade effect and the lack of use of color as a means of dramaturgy prevented the breakthrough of the technology to the mass market.

Only with the establishment of the three -color printing method in which the color was yellow with integrated, all colors could be played without restriction. From the middle of 1932 Walt Disney produced a number of his cartoons and short films in the newly developed color process. Gradually began experimenting with short films to gain the necessary experience for a full-length feature film. Disney failed in 1933 with his plans, an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland with Mary Pickford to realize. Encouraged by the great financial and artistic success of the short film La Cucaracha the film enthusiast John Hay " Jock " Whitney co-founded with his cousin Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, the company Pioneer Pictures, which produced exclusively with color Technicolor films.

Finally, the participants agreed in August 1934 on Becky Sharp as the first project for a full-length feature film. The script is very loosely based on the novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, however, converts the events in many places from decisive. The female lead role was played Miriam Hopkins, the Director first led Lowell Sherman, who, however, died in mid December 1934. The producers commissioned Rouben Mamoulian then that rejected the entire material already crazy and completely re- started. Mamoulian quickly recognized the dramaturgical possibilities opened up the ink film. As the story progresses, he uses the different shades to reinforce feelings and inner developments in optical and illustrate it. Especially the ball of the Duchess at the end of the film was unanimously praised for its clever use of color, light, shadow and decor that blend in Mamoulian into an artistic unity.

Due to turbulent filming the costs escalated at the end to 950,000 U.S. dollars, which could not be restored at the box office. Inconsistent reviews, particularly criticized the incoherent script and the very free use of the template, did the rest, keep the audience from the cinema. The hoped-for breakthrough by all parties of the paint film similar to the triumph of the sound film did not materialize. Most studios shied away from the high investment and so it took finally to the beginning of the 1940s, the use of color gradually no longer the exception but the rule was.

Criticism

In addition to the allegations against the script, some critics also found no access to the use of color in the film. One reviewer found that the actors would look like cooked salmon mayonnaise. ( "The cast Looked like boiled salmon dipped in mayonnaise ").

Awards

At the Academy Awards in 1936, the film was nominated in the category

• Best Actress