Darling (1965)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(2,017 ratings)

Julie Christie won an Oscar for her portrayal of a bored, amoral fashion model in this cynical melodrama from director John Schlesinger. Following the break-up of a teenage marriage, Diana Scott (Christie) drifts into the world of modeling and acting, where she meets a television news reporter,… More Julie Christie won an Oscar for her portrayal of a bored, amoral fashion model in this cynical melodrama from director John Schlesinger. Following the break-up of a teenage marriage, Diana Scott (Christie) drifts into the world of modeling and acting, where she meets a television news reporter, Robert Gold (Dirk Bogarde), who leaves his family for her and introduces her to a more powerful and wealthy set. Soon Diana meets somebody more attractive: public relations mogul Miles Brand (Laurence Harvey). After briefly leaving and then drifting back into Robert's life, experiencing an orgy and even getting an abortion, Diana eventually leaves the swinging London scene behind and settles down to an unfulfilling if comfortable life as the wife of millionaire Italian widower Cesare (Jose-Luis deVillalonga). Shocking in its day, Darling (1965) won Oscars for its costumes and script from Frederic Raphael. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: John Schlesinger
Written By: Frederic Raphael
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1965 Wide
On DVD: Dec 2, 2003

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A rather constipated and badly dated Brit New Wave social satire film.
Tony Macklin, tonymacklin.net
John Schlesinger's Darling is a film of excessive and self-defeating brilliance.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Julie Christie is must-see in Oscar winning performance.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A transitional work between the British "Kitchen Sink" realism and the more stylized works of siwnging London, Schlesinger's film has not aged particularly well, but Julie Christie is beautiful and captivating as the immoral and amoral heroine.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Christie's Oscar-winning portrayal hasn't aged a bit, even if the movie's swinging '60s milieu has.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
If not for Christie's brilliant performance, I would say that this isn't much above a movie of the week.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer X

Am I the only one that thinks Julie Christie is alarmingly obnoxious in this role? Her voice is sometimes grating on the ears. But the mod 60s fashion is always one that attracts me, and this movie's style is really what's working for it.
Nicki M

Had never heard of this 60's film, but I have to say it was pretty good. I loved the stylish black and white film, the 60's fashions and hairstyles and I found the story and character of Diana interesting, although the film was very long, and a bit repetitive at times (not… More
Had never heard of this 60's film, but I have to say it was pretty good. I loved the stylish black and white film, the 60's fashions and hairstyles and I found the story and character of Diana interesting, although the film was very long, and a bit repetitive at times (not to mention confusing, trying to keep straight which man was which!). Julie Christie plays social climbing Diana Scott, very beautiful and spoiled and used to getting her own way. Not the most likeable character, she goes through the film using and manipulating men to further her career and get her standing in life. Well, it makes a change from men using women, I guess. I would imagine this film would have been controversial in it's time. There's a lot of sex in this, though none of it graphic, or particularly shocking, although I guess the swingers parties are meant to be. (Tame by todays standards!). By the time the movie ends, she has increased her status no end, but she is miserable, and I guess you could say got what she deserved, although I did feel some sympathy for her, then felt like a mug for feeling so, as she was obviously just putting on the crocodile tears.
Stefanie C

'All lies are truth at a time.' This film has been unfairly criticized for the amorality and avarice of its main character, the heavy-handedness of direction, and datedness. These 'faults' are actually the film's strengths. The glass motif emphasizes the… More
'All lies are truth at a time.' This film has been unfairly criticized for the amorality and avarice of its main character, the heavy-handedness of direction, and datedness. These 'faults' are actually the film's strengths. The glass motif emphasizes the transparency, impenetrability, separateness and emptiness of the sweet life in sixties London. Decadence is never unfashionable; Image is character.
jay n

julie's wonderful but the film is dated

Cast

            Julie Christie as Diana Scott

            Dirk Bogarde as Robert Gold

            Laurence Harvey as Miles Brand

            Roland Curram as Malcolm

            Jose-Luis De Villalonga as Prince Cesare

            Basil Henson as Alec Prosser-Jones

            Helen Lindsay as Felicity Prosser-Jones

            Peter Bayliss as Lord Grant

            Tyler Butterworth as William Presser-Jones

            Annette Carell as Billie Castiglione

            Georgina Cookson as Carlotta Hale

            James Cossins as Basildon

            Hugo Dixon as Matthew Southgate

            Ann Firbank as Sybil

            John Heller as Gerhard

            Angus MacKay as Ivor Dawlish

            Umberto Raho as Palucci

            Irene Richmond as Mrs. Glass

            Alex Scott as Sean Martin

            Lydia Sherwood as Lady Brentwood

            Brian Wilde as Willett

            Pauline Yates as Estelle Gold

            Jean Claudio as Raoul Maxim

            Marika Rivera as Woman

            Ernst Walder as Kurt

            Richard Bidlake as Rupert Crabtree

            Sidonie Bond as Gillian

            Margaret Gordon as Helen Dawlish

            Carlo Palmucci as Curzio

            Dante Posani as Gino

            Lucille Soong as Allie

            José Luis de Vilallonga
            
            Jose Luis de Villalonga
            
See full cast