Reflections in a Golden Eye

The gothic scenario involves the loveless marriage between the sophisticated and smug Major Weldon Penderton, a repressed homosexual, and his adulterous ditsy wife Leonora, the spoiled daughter of the fort’s former commander. Living next door on the military post is another couple — Colonel Morris Langdon and his daffy wife Alison. After Alison lost her child in labor a few years ago, she cut off her nipples with garden shears and all hubby could say is that she’s neurotic. The fragile Alison is attended to by her unusually loyal eunuch-like cuddly Filipino houseboy Anacleto, who is not merely her servant, confidant, substitute son, sole companion and most influentual source of culture — but will do whatever she desires. Anacleto does an outrageous theatrical queenie routine, but his selfless character is in sharp contrast to the others who only have selfish motivations (David’s performance was a hoot!). All the main characters are moody brooders, egotists, and unhappy souls plagued with varying degrees of psychological issues.

The film opens with a quote from Carson McCullers: There is a fort in the South where a few years ago a murder was committed. The murder is almost forgotten about until the conclusion, when the surprise murder tops off the nutty story with a real bang. Most of the film is about the Major reconciled that he’s impotent and that his wife is doing it with his best friend and fellow officer Morris. Leonora knows how to get under his skin and rides him constantly about his inability to perform, which keeps the vain man in line. The self-absorbed scatterbrained woman is not only interested in sensual things, but in throwing elegant parties, lowbrow humor, status and riding her favorite white stallion Firebird. Leonora goes for regular rides with the Colonel, who envisions himself a natural leader and macho man—looking askance on classical music and culture as something only for the weak. The Colonel’s excellent horsemanship is in sharp contrast with her hubby’s inferior horsemanship, as good horsemanship is equated with being good in the sack.

Taking care of Leonora’s horse is Pvt. Williams, an excellent horseman, who in one of the film’s most reknown scenes rides naked on horseback in the woods. It turns out that the handsome recruit is a virgin, a loner, not given easily to conversation and is a stalker. He stealthily enters Leonora’s bedroom, where she sleeps alone, and spends the night sniffing and fondling her nightie while she sleeps. The major doesn’t know this and in the meantime has developed an obsessive attraction for Williams, whom he thinks is leading him on. When stalking Williams, he picks up the Baby Ruth wrapper discarded by the private and lovingly shapes it into a penis and fondles it when back in his military house. —Ozu’s World of Movie Reviews