Beguiled (1971)
A Drama Movie On A Western Backdrop

Beguiled doesn't have much to be counted as a western movie in the list of Clint Eastwood movies, except for its western backdrop. The movie depicts the time of American Civil War between the United States of America (the "Union") and the Southern slave states of the newly formed Confederate States of America. It doesn't show galloping horses, wooden saloons, quick draws and marshal-outlaw-tussle.

But I enjoyed watching this Clint Eastwood film for some reason. It is the story of a wounded union soldier John McBurney (Clint Eastwood) in Louisiana who is saved by a little girl Amy (Pamelyn Ferdin). As she brings the dying soldier back to the all-girl boarding school, you get to know that it is not going to be one of gun-cracking Clint Eastwood films. Because he is going to be on bed during all the time (mostly on the bed of others ).

Don’t lose heart folks, it turns out to be something else which I guess you will like for a change. At first the female staff dislikes the wounded soldier, who is an enemy soldier for them. But soon the situation starts turning out to be ‘a man on a women island’. Every female is longing for him soon. He is handsome, he is charming and above all..he is a damn flirt of first degree.

In Clint Eastwood movies, you have seen him playing a character with gray shades many a times, but this one is different from other Clint Eastwood films. He is mean Casanova who likes using young girls of Confederate school for his pleasure and amusement. Soon, he has all females conspiring against each other for his one touch. And matter starts going worse.

Beguiled shows that even most respected personalities around us are vulnerable to human desires and this can become a reason of their moral decay. Soldier John not only pretends he loves the under-15 Amy, 17 years old Carol, Young teacher Edwina but also the chief mistress Miss Martha Farnsworth. Now how all these characters affect the plot, is worth watching in Beguiled.

Flashbacks are used in an amazing way in Beguiled. Soldier John tells Miss Martha that he got wounded because of his ethics as he put himself in danger saving others. But as speaks, flashback shows what he really was doing..killing ! Miss Martha tells him about her brother...and flashback shows her making love to his brother. Background score is bit spooky sometimes and it goes well with the drama.

Many a times you lose even after winning your desires. That’s what happens to Soldier John, but in a very tragic way. Movie has used very poetic symbols to tell the story. In the end of the movie, a pet crow dies. The crow was wounded and was being cured at Confederate school by Amy. Now, if you are smart, you guessed it.

I won’t suggest this movie to watch as a western movie, but I will recommend it to all fans of Clint Eastwood films for his nice performance in Beguiled. Also who says women in western movies don't act? Watch this one for fine performances by all actresses.

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