Becky Sharp (1935)

Why it's here:
There's only one reason for Becky Sharp to be on our list: it is the first major film release done in full Technicolor.

Specs:
Hour and a half, COLOR. Available on youtube.
The film is set in Victorian England.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
4.75

More about the film and our reaction to it:
Becky Sharp is the main character in William Thackery's "Vanity Fair." I've seen a more modern adaptation of the story and wouldn't have necessarily thought this was a great option for family viewing, but we chose it on the sole criterion of it's being the "first" color film (see note on "B&W to Color" for qualifiers). It is interesting to note that the transition in Hollywood from black and white to color was a much much slower one than the transition from silent to sound. Although Becky Sharp marks the first technicolor entry in our festival, the great bulk of films being made for the next 20 years will still be in black and white.

The color in Becky Sharp was not as vibrant or beautiful as in The Adventures of Robin Hood or Gone With the Wind, but it is still impressive as an achievement and fun to see after so many years of black and white. Unfortunately, we had to watch this on Youtube, as we couldn't find it elsewhere, and that presented a hurdle to our enjoyment -- the resolution was not great and did not showcase the Technicolor to its best advantage.  And since the Technicolor was the major selling point for us, it ended up being a bit of a flop. Although this is a landmark film, technically speaking, it has not become an enduring classic.

Becky Sharp is a pretty run of the mill period drama. The underlying story is a good one and tells the tale of a very scheming and ruthless woman who uses people (especially men) to get ahead in the world. She makes Scarlett O'Hara look kind and sympathetic by comparison. We didn't actually watch the whole film but maybe the first half, and then skimmed to the end. If you are a fan of period drama you might enjoy this, otherwise we would suggest you pass on it -- or just watch a bit to experience the technological wonder of three-strip Technicolor!

Iconic shot: