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	The Devil's Widow (Tam Lin) Ava Gardner, Ian McShane Republic Pictures, 1998 average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
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It is dated, and some of the work it too artsy, but I really think this film deserver a closer look because it works on several levels. Based on the poems by Robbie Burn (Tamlin) and Sir Walter Scott (Ballad of Tam Lin) it was called Ballad of Tamlin, Tamlin and the ridiculous Devil's Window, and has roots in ancient Scottish Folklore. I think the dated hip 60's look even now works for the film, for it gives a slice of time, just as the poems reflect their periods.

Ian McShane is gorgeous as the young man caught in the web of the Faery Queen (the timeless Eva Gardner) who maintains her youth like a black widow, by surrounding herself with the young and refusing to admit her ageing, until she sacrifices the willing, king sacrifice. This goes back to the king sacrifice ritual and pre-christian times, for the sake of renewal. In distant history, a renewal was of crops meant to sustain the people, in this instance, a renewal is her eternal beauty. Things are moving along until the virgin (Stephanie Beacham)comes along and entrances Tamlin with her simply purity. When the Faery Queen sees she is losing power over her young lover, she decides it is time to sacrifice him and only the pure, true love of Beacham can save him.

This movie is pure pagan lore, the crone face of the goddess equated with winter's fight against the virgin face of the goddess ie spring, and the male caught between them. McDowell did a wonderful job putting this ancient lore in the very definitive period of the swinging 60s, pulling excellent performances out of Gardner, McShane and Beacham that are textured in emotions and nuances.

So I think it is time to take a fresh look at a film that was misunderstood from the start.

Won't be to everyone's tastes, but for the fans of McShane, McDowell or Gardner, for those interested in lore (for those that even like Austin Powers movies...lol) take a walk in the 60's wildside....or for those just wishing to see a Carnaby Street Time Capsule!!!

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She pays a tithe to Hell...

This is a fascinating modern adaptation of the Tam Lin folk tale, about a courageous young maiden's bid to rescue young Tam Lin, an Elven consort to the Faerie Queen, who had originally been an Earthly knight.

The actual Tam Lin ballad appears throughout the movie, sung by the superb Jacqui McShee of the band Pentangle, who also created the title music, Name Of The Game.

Apart from the excellent main cast, there are also very early appearances by actresses who went on to fame in their own right, such as Joanna Lumley - The New Avengers, Absolutely Fabulous etc.

If you are familiar with the tale of Tam Lin, you will see all manner of parallels in the movie, which, like The Wicker Man, never received the initial promotion it deserved.

A classic late sixties Art movie.

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Rather interesting, but a little hard to follow

This was a 1971 movie that was directed by Roddy McDowell. It was filmed in 1968 (or '69), but shelved until late '71. After a limited airing in the theaters, it pretty much disappeared, until 1998, when Republic Pictures finally made it available on VHS. And this is an excellent example of why you should hold on to your VCRs when you upgrade to DVD: there are still titles out there not available on DVD and this is one of them.

I was aware of Tam Lin, not as a movie, but a traditional folk song from the British Isles, especially from a version Fairport Convention did on their highly acclaimed Liege & Lief (1969) album. Much more recently I discovered there was a movie directed by Roddy McDowell, starring American-born actress Ava Gardner, plus Stephanie Beacham (who appeared on Hammer Flicks like Dracula A.D. 1972, plus in the 1990s, Seaquest DSV) which was based on this traditional folk song. Also on this film was Joanna Lumley, who appeared on Hammer flicks too like Stephanie Beacham, and more recently, the Absolutely Fabulous TV series. Well, for a 1971 movie, it does seem a bit dated even by 1971 standards, with that groovy, "swingin' '60s" feel throughout, but that's only because it was filmed about three years earlier. At first I found this movie a bit drawn-out and lacking plot, but it really grew on me, especially those rustic scenes set in the Scottish countryside. Like the song, the movie was based on a lover's triangle, which included a young man named Tam Lin (played by Ian McShane, with a more modern Anglo name of Tom Lynn in this movie), the Fairy Queen Mickey Cazaret, and the vicar's daughter, Janet Ainsley, played by Beacham, and the consequences of betrayal. This isn't one of those high-paced big budget Hollywood type films, but one of those type of films you expect American International Pictures to release (in fact AIP did release it here in the States, but unfortunately this VHS, or the commentary from McDowell that begins the tape, makes no mention of this).

There's also the music worth mentioning. There's a rather groovy song that you hear near the beginning of the movie. I saw one source state it was The Pentangle, but that's highly doubtful (I suspect Salena Jones), as that band tended to be quite acoustic, and this was a heavily electric number with horns (and besides Danny Thompson wouldn't play anything other than the stand-up bass he named "Victoria" which he bought when he was young, and this song has plenty of electric bass, and only John Renbourn would touch an electric guitar, in the Pentangle's early '70s stuff like Cruel Sister, in a rather low-key fashion). The film does credit both The Pentangle and Salena Jones for providing music. But what can't be denied is The Pentangle did do a version of "Tam Lin" just for this film. It sounds completely different from the version Fairport Convention did, it was a slower ballad, heavily acoustic, and with sitar (which the band used on their highly acclaimed 1969 album Basket of Light). In fact this piece could've fit easily on Basket of Light, with plenty of the great trademarks you come to expect from The Pentangle, not to mention Jacqui McShee's wonderful voice. Unfortunately their version of "Tam Lin" can only be found on this movie, it never appeared on any of their albums, not even as any bonus cuts on any recent CD reissue, so if you're a fan of The Pentangle, this is the only place you get to hear their version of "Tam Lin". Honestly I prefer Fairport's version over this version, but that's just happened to be my taste. Another thing not denied is Salena Jones did do "Sun In My Eyes" which tended to be a rather lounge-y number, but no surprise as you hear her (and see her) sing that song as Tom Lynn and Mickey Cazaret (Ava Gardener) talk in a lounge.

Anyway, because Tam Lin (the movie) failed miserably, Roddy McDowell decided never to direct again and stick to what he knew best: acting. But remember that this is a movie you won't get the first few times you see it. It tends to be artsy, with some psychedelic overtones at time. It might drag on at times, but it is a rather nice movie.

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Blown away in '72...

I really wish a DVD existed of this movie! In 1972, I was channel-surfing in the middle of the night and came upon an airing of Tam Lin, halfway through the movie. I was 19 then, and the movie seemed mystical and surreal to me; for quite a while I could not figure out what was going on except it involved Janet and Ian and Ava and ominous overtones, and I was blown away. As the movie neared the end I recognized the Tam Lin theme, but the movie was shown under the Devil's Widow title and "modernized", although the music seemed to have appropriate medieval overtones...but I never made a firm link to Tam Lin until years later ...and I never saw the movie again. But I'd like to, because it seemed to me that it suceeded in conveying the atmosphere of Faerie and the glamor (in its old sense) that confuses and enthralls mortals who happen to collide with "the Good Folk".

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recommendations

The Films of the Beautiful Ava Gardner
Bring Me These DVDs (vol.3)
McShane Movies