Tam-Lin (1970) also originally released in different territories / at different times / in different cuts as
The Ballad of Tam-Lin,
The Devil's Widow, and
The Devil's Woman. There's a suggestion of the fairie realms just in all that inconsistency.
A 1970 British folk horror film directed by Roddy McDowall and starring Ava Gardner and a young (I didn't know he ever was) Ian McShane. The film was directed by Roddy McDowall (Cornelius from the original
Planet of the Apes), and apparently conceived with Ava Gardner in mind. Fans of Scottish folklore, or 60 folk-rock music, will know the legend of Tam Lin, who was enthralled to the fairie queen but saved by his mortal lover on the midsummer. Set in the year it was filmed, 1969, with the story adapted to a wealthy woman with a younger entourage for whom she pays everything. The existence of magic, immortality, and other worlds, hovers under the surface. This is a compelling premise, and along with the cast it's a promising proposition. Long unavailable, fans of British cinema were thrilled when it was re-released as it holds a great reputation in that crowd, and many good reviews are to be found on line.
I found it dull and poorly acted, although some of it may be down to the era. I find films from the 70s/80s hard to watch, the pacing is off and the emotions are muted, I'd rather watch the over-acting from the 1940s-50s. The 1960s can swing either way. I thought this was trying to be a modern psychedelic film but failing, but maybe it hit different to British audiences in 1970? Either way, the pinnacle moment when "Tom Lynn" is be saved by his lover was inexcusably terrible. Plus they used Pentangle's "Tam Lynn" for the soundtrack, instead of the obviously superior version by Fairport Convention. Most of the cinematography was really good, there was some great eye work from Ava, and Richard Wattis was probably the most compelling as her long-suffering butler, but underused. Lovely fancy counterculture clothes from 60s London push this to a mere 5/10 for me.
Boyfriend was there, which only makes it more tragic.
