More than 50 years after I first saw this film, it still leaves such an emotional impact on my soul. It’s such a beautifully acted and written film. Sandy Dennis was a great actress.
Everything about this movie is spot on. The saturated Technicolor, the sets, the exteriors, the dialogue, the casting, the understated performances. Everything that was fabulous about 60s movies, when they were really good. Thank God they resisted the Hollywood impulse to change the ending; they kept the vision consistent, and made the film memorable. I saw this for the first time when I was 11 or 12, and the second time tonight. Remembered so much; all of the important stuff. Thanks!
Remake was awful .it could never happen again .maybe a play .This was great casting and a bittersweet end.i still go to Brooklyn heights to the area of the old carriage houses .where i believe this was filmed .i even walked one night in the snow into the park of the end scene .Surreal.
Just want to thank Oldfilmscreen for posting this film. It inspired my first marriage and our decision to move to Brooklyn Heights for our first home together. As in the film, there was an end and a moving on, but it was good to be back there for an hour or two, thanks to you. And Sandy Dennis, you will always be the beautiful Sara. We really do live on in the memories of those who loved us.
Sweet November is a strange & odd film, but it is deeply intriguing. The film is a romantic comedy but is tragic with deep sadness intertwined throughout. This film probably has not received the recognition it deserves. At only 21 years of age, Sara, the main character, was dealt a bad hand in life. Despite her young age, she would soon die from an incurable disease, probably before she turned 23. After her medical diagnosis, her method of dealing with the limited time she has left (perhaps only one year) is thought-provoking but bizarre & controversial. During her last year of life, she selects a man nearly every month to live with her in a Brooklyn Heights apartment. The bizarre part of the arrangement is that not under any circumstance are any men allowed to stay beyond the allotted days for his month. It was her way to reach out & help multiple men overcome various character or social flaws. Also, it was her way to be remembered & not be forgotten after her death. Ultimately, before she is forced to depart this world, her best intentions are to leave behind as many beneficial impacts as possible. All was mostly going as planned until November arrived & the folly of her approach became exposed. All the men selected each month fall in love with Sara. Although she develops an affection for each of them in unique ways she only unintentionally also mutually falls in love with her November month selection. Her heart-breaking decision at the film's end only doubles the sadness for both. The emotional hurt is so great that some could argue that it crosses the line into sadism as the December selection replaces the man she loves. The actress Sandy Dennis, who played the character of Sara, had a curious personality but possessed an endearing & vulnerable nature. Her natural expressions & mannerisms were perfect for the character she played in Sweet November. Now, 56 years after the film’s release, all ten primary actors with speaking parts in this movie have since passed away. Sandy died at the relatively young age of only 54 years. Ironically, she ended up having the shortest life compared to the other nine actors. Life is a gift, but the inevitability of death is the price we all must pay. Time is precious.
If you look at the end of this movie, through the eyes of 1968, people have labeled it “moribund, sad, not a good ending to a love story❤.” Then in 1974, Love Story came along and a young lawyer is lost when his wife dies of leukemia.” Their story shattered the movie charts, at the time. If we relook at Sweet November, with Charlie and Sara, it is a ❤story much greater than we expected. Love is about life shared, giving gifts and dealing with pain. Sara gave Charlie the gift of curing his “Hurry, hurry, ding, ding.” Charlie gave Sara, the gift of poems. This is the first gift she asked for. The closing song is another Charlie poem: rhyming and loving the thought of Sara forever. Each time the song is listened to, Sara and Charlie sweet month together is reappraised. Sara is remembered. She told us all, she wanted to be remembered after she died. Charlie Blake helped us all to remember Sara.
That's a great ending. If right before Charlie had walked out the door, Sara had broken down and cried, and run into Charlie's arms and told Gordon to get lost, it would have been so fake and so awful. As it is, Sara held to her principles and that made the film great. She didn't want Charlie to see her die and she needed to help a few more men before leaving this planet for good to make herself feel fulfilled. Her last longing look at the door when Charlie left spoke of her love for him more than any words could.
Nina Jefferson Yes I don’t know if this movie would survive this times, it doesn’t put that woman in a good light. But it’s obviously from the POV of the main male character, we actually never see her or any other character POV.
They both are in two different stages of mature development. Sara was 22, she is considered a “young” adult. She lacks understanding of death/dying/grief process. Charlie is the mature adult, who understands rules, understands commitment, who Sara taught communication. “I’ll remember.” That was a goal of Sara is for someone to remember her.
Robert Ellis Miller who directed the equally wonderful "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and "Reuben, Reuben" never got the recognition he deserved - and this film was no exception!!!
Miller also did my absolute favorite episode of The Twilight Zone, The Changing of the Guard. Between that and Sweet November, he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. I can’t wait to check out more of his work!
Sandy Dennis - Wonderful! - such an underrated actress - so perfect, exactly how one feels when approaching the end of life. wanting to do something to make a difference,,, to be remembered.
She totally nails her performance. It's rare to see such naturalism in a Hollywood movie. All those hesitations when she is uttering some sentence, that's how people actually speak, not as a learnt script. Her appearance and face expression also pretty much epitomize "the girl next door" idea which is what this role must be all about.
"A girl I know, she is partly mad. Yet behind that smile, she is partly sad. She is partly calm, she is partly wild. But she is mostly woman -- No. She is mostly child."
This version is much lighter, sweeter and less soul shattering than the remake version. But as much as I much enjoyed this 1968 version, the remake is still my favorite one. It absolutely OBLITERATED my heart and had me crying my eyes out and the ending broke me. This one just gave me a bitter sweet feeling, but I was overall contempt with this ending. Now the remake one, on the other hand, jesus christ.... That was a bit much for my poor heart to handle, I guess that's why I loved it so much lmao Thank you so much for sharing such lovely content @oldfilmscreen! :)
I don't think that anyone sees the irony in this....she goes about trying to help troubled men, or men that she at least perceives as troubled. But it is SHE who has the problem. She isn't mature enough to face her own death. She has to jump from one person to the next, because she cannot trust that anyone is strong enough and responsible enough to face that tragedy with her. It can be viewed as noble of course, to want to spare a person the sight of your sad demise, but if that person loves you and can face that there is no need to offer the service of "sparing" them. Her need to keep moving on in the guise of being "helpful" to others appears to be a thinly veiled mask that she uses as a way to hide from her own passing.
The intricacies and apparent contradictions of human nature... This is how this film has far greater depth and a lot more interest than all those Rom Coms...
I love this post. For what it’s worth, I would add that at no point in the movie did Charlie strike me as the right person to handle all of that. He matures for sure but he acts in his own interest way too often. This movie might be my favorite because it addresses a type of relationship that is almost never talked about in Hollywood!
She was very young and hadn't crossed many lives...it was her fear of being forgotten ..or it being as if she never existed! Time is the big theme in this story!
By focusing on each man’s “trouble,” she doesn’t have to face her own feelings of loss. She ran away from her family, she ran away from her physicians, by living in this tapestry of Brooklyn Heights, she can live out her dreams in her own world. Alphonso is the only person who grounds her, understands her situation and assists. He’s the guy who sees all these projects come and go. She looked at Gordon pretty pathetically. If she could compare Charlie to Gordon, Charlie would be with her. I think Alphonso would notify Klem and Charlie if she were dying. That’s my only thought that turns my heart around when I recall the ending.
La Mujer confía en el hombre que le dé esa confianza. Si el hombre no es de fiar , la mujer no debe confiar. La mujer no debe confiar alocadamente en algún hombre
What a bittersweet love story! You just want to clobber Sara! I saw this movie as a kid and just like RobMac states, I remembered almost all those wonderful details, especially the ending. As for the film makers and actors of the remake.... SHAME ON YOU!! Why the hell did you bother?
u must be a k reeves fan denise ; this is a great movie ; the 2001 is not even the same movie ; its not in brooklyn heights and i think the character names changed . its a movie with the same name.also charley wants to hold on to november , not sara
I loved Newley when he was in most all of the movies he made. A brilliant actor, genius composer, but not really his singing. It's like he sings by sticking his tongue out as far as he can, and saying aaaaaooooowwwwww. But so what ... he was charming and brilliant.
@2:33 What's that music that just started in the middle of a very utter scene?? Shhh.. turn that off. 😄 I want to feel the moment. Ooh, I like it when a man insists solid on keeping on going. His true colors show right there... not to mention true emotion and total interest. I got shivers!! 🥰 Unless it appeared lust doing it, I'll split my bag into over his head. 😆
Ann Ingram I think Sandy's performance in this scene is sublime. Yes, it's understated, but it's far from blank to me. There's so much pain beneath the surface, especially when she turns her back to him. She's so close to succumbing to the desire to ask him to stay, while warring with the need to let him go and thereby avoid the suffering they'll both endure if he does stay. Ahh, this scene really moves me! I think it's perfection - I wouldn't want some sappy, 'typical Hollywood' ending. It's tragic, and it's beautifully so.
I didn't like the ending. She is a deeply cruel person. Regardless of whether or not she were terminally ill. Even I would say she brought the disease upon herself with such a cold heart.
@@pongkong I'm also sure that cabinet full of daily medications wasn't doing any wonders for her mental and emotional health. She is emotionally numb. Not in her right mind. Pursuing Charlie, which is what she did. It was she who initiated the relationship. Then after all he did to prove his love and commitment, including one thousand calendar cut-outs of Novembers.
@@Ortzmet That remake does not contribute anything, better stay with the memory of the original. As I remember it, its ending is more protracted and less poignant, though I saw it some ten years ago, I don't remember it in detail.
I much prefer the 2001 film with K Reeves. It had more emotions. Throughout this movie Sara acting was boring, and she didn't show any real emotion of falling in love, and, that she wanted to hold on to November. Acting was flat and dull, but the story was lovely.
More than 50 years after I first saw this film, it still leaves such an emotional impact on my soul. It’s such a beautifully acted and written film. Sandy Dennis was a great actress.
Everything about this movie is spot on. The saturated Technicolor, the sets, the exteriors, the dialogue, the casting, the understated performances. Everything that was fabulous about 60s movies, when they were really good. Thank God they resisted the Hollywood impulse to change the ending; they kept the vision consistent, and made the film memorable. I saw this for the first time when I was 11 or 12, and the second time tonight. Remembered so much; all of the important stuff. Thanks!
Can't watch it enough !
Remake was awful .it could never happen again .maybe a play .This was great casting and a bittersweet end.i still go to Brooklyn heights to the area of the old carriage houses .where i believe this was filmed .i even walked one night in the snow into the park of the end scene .Surreal.
Just want to thank Oldfilmscreen for posting this film. It inspired my first marriage and our decision to move to Brooklyn Heights for our first home together. As in the film, there was an end and a moving on, but it was good to be back there for an hour or two, thanks to you. And Sandy Dennis, you will always be the beautiful Sara. We really do live on in the memories of those who loved us.
Sweet November is a strange & odd film, but it is deeply intriguing. The film is a romantic comedy but is tragic with deep sadness intertwined throughout. This film probably has not received the recognition it deserves.
At only 21 years of age, Sara, the main character, was dealt a bad hand in life. Despite her young age, she would soon die from an incurable disease, probably before she turned 23. After her medical diagnosis, her method of dealing with the limited time she has left (perhaps only one year) is thought-provoking but bizarre & controversial.
During her last year of life, she selects a man nearly every month to live with her in a Brooklyn Heights apartment. The bizarre part of the arrangement is that not under any circumstance are any men allowed to stay beyond the allotted days for his month. It was her way to reach out & help multiple men overcome various character or social flaws. Also, it was her way to be remembered & not be forgotten after her death. Ultimately, before she is forced to depart this world, her best intentions are to leave behind as many beneficial impacts as possible. All was mostly going as planned until November arrived & the folly of her approach became exposed.
All the men selected each month fall in love with Sara. Although she develops an affection for each of them in unique ways she only unintentionally also mutually falls in love with her November month selection. Her heart-breaking decision at the film's end only doubles the sadness for both. The emotional hurt is so great that some could argue that it crosses the line into sadism as the December selection replaces the man she loves.
The actress Sandy Dennis, who played the character of Sara, had a curious personality but possessed an endearing & vulnerable nature. Her natural expressions & mannerisms were perfect for the character she played in Sweet November. Now, 56 years after the film’s release, all ten primary actors with speaking parts in this movie have since passed away. Sandy died at the relatively young age of only 54 years. Ironically, she ended up having the shortest life compared to the other nine actors. Life is a gift, but the inevitability of death is the price we all must pay. Time is precious.
I thought about and remembered this movie for over 40 years, so good to see it again, thank you
Me too!
Well, one thing is for certain -- this is one of my favorite scenes in all movies for all times. Anthony Newley simply delights me.
If you look at the end of this movie, through the eyes of 1968, people have labeled it “moribund, sad, not a good ending to a love story❤.” Then in 1974, Love Story came along and a young lawyer is lost when his wife dies of leukemia.” Their story shattered the movie charts, at the time.
If we relook at Sweet November, with Charlie and Sara, it is a ❤story much greater than we expected. Love is about life shared, giving gifts and dealing with pain.
Sara gave Charlie the gift of curing his “Hurry, hurry, ding, ding.”
Charlie gave Sara, the gift of poems. This is the first gift she asked for.
The closing song is another Charlie poem: rhyming and loving the thought of Sara forever.
Each time the song is listened to, Sara and Charlie sweet month together is reappraised. Sara is remembered. She told us all, she wanted to be remembered after she died.
Charlie Blake helped us all to remember Sara.
That's a great ending. If right before Charlie had walked out the door, Sara had broken down and cried, and run into Charlie's arms and told Gordon to get lost, it would have been so fake and so awful.
As it is, Sara held to her principles and that made the film great. She didn't want Charlie to see her die and she needed to help a few more men before leaving this planet for good to make herself feel fulfilled. Her last longing look at the door when Charlie left spoke of her love for him more than any words could.
Nina Jefferson Yes I don’t know if this movie would survive this times, it doesn’t put that woman in a good light. But it’s obviously from the POV of the main male character, we actually never see her or any other character POV.
They both are in two different stages of mature development. Sara was 22, she is considered a “young” adult. She lacks understanding of death/dying/grief process. Charlie is the mature adult, who understands rules, understands commitment, who Sara taught communication. “I’ll remember.” That was a goal of Sara is for someone to remember her.
Silly. I disagree.
Robert Ellis Miller who directed the equally wonderful "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and "Reuben, Reuben" never got the recognition he deserved - and this film was no exception!!!
Miller also did my absolute favorite episode of The Twilight Zone, The Changing of the Guard. Between that and Sweet November, he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. I can’t wait to check out more of his work!
I really loved this movie. My very first time watching..so fascinating.
I shared on facebook I hope everyone loves this as much as I did.❤
Super sad the end! Great actor I cried for him.. I love keanu but this is best!!
I havent seen this great movie in a long long time. Thank you for showing it here !
An unconditional love
Always very moving! Well played out and good production!
Thanks!!!
A lovely film!!!
Thank you again!!!
How many men cried watching this movie.
I cried because of ending movie sad with song Sweet November 💔😭😭
Sandy Dennis - Wonderful! - such an underrated actress - so perfect, exactly how one feels when approaching the end of life. wanting to do something to make a difference,,, to be remembered.
She totally nails her performance. It's rare to see such naturalism in a Hollywood movie. All those hesitations when she is uttering some sentence, that's how people actually speak, not as a learnt script. Her appearance and face expression also pretty much epitomize "the girl next door" idea which is what this role must be all about.
"A girl I know, she is partly mad. Yet behind that smile, she is partly sad. She is partly calm, she is partly wild. But she is mostly woman -- No. She is mostly child."
"Enigma"
Omg I have to stop watching this movie. All I do is cry
Ending movie sad with song Sweet November 💔😭😭
This scene just tears me apart knowing. It's against his will to leave but he must. Why must love hurt so much? Alone again naturally.
Only a true love could make him leave so nobly!
Charlie's face, when Sara said she packed his bag looked so full of pain 😔
6:06 is so sad, when Charlie realises he has no choice but to leave.
Just saw this for the first time last month. That ending! Unforgettable.
Impossible to find movie. THANKS!!!!!
Such an enjoyable film , thanks .
Love everyone in this lovely film TY
This version is much lighter, sweeter and less soul shattering than the remake version. But as much as I much enjoyed this 1968 version, the remake is still my favorite one. It absolutely OBLITERATED my heart and had me crying my eyes out and the ending broke me. This one just gave me a bitter sweet feeling, but I was overall contempt with this ending. Now the remake one, on the other hand, jesus christ.... That was a bit much for my poor heart to handle, I guess that's why I loved it so much lmao
Thank you so much for sharing such lovely content @oldfilmscreen! :)
@TruthMaster2020 As I remember it, the remake is less nuanced and has a more protracted dénouement. Pretty superfluous, like almost all remakes.
I don't think that anyone sees the irony in this....she goes about trying to help troubled men, or men that she at least perceives as troubled. But it is SHE who has the problem. She isn't mature enough to face her own death. She has to jump from one person to the next, because she cannot trust that anyone is strong enough and responsible enough to face that tragedy with her. It can be viewed as noble of course, to want to spare a person the sight of your sad demise, but if that person loves you and can face that there is no need to offer the service of "sparing" them. Her need to keep moving on in the guise of being "helpful" to others appears to be a thinly veiled mask that she uses as a way to hide from her own passing.
The intricacies and apparent contradictions of human nature... This is how this film has far greater depth and a lot more interest than all those Rom Coms...
I love this post. For what it’s worth, I would add that at no point in the movie did Charlie strike me as the right person to handle all of that. He matures for sure but he acts in his own interest way too often. This movie might be my favorite because it addresses a type of relationship that is almost never talked about in Hollywood!
She was very young and hadn't crossed many lives...it was her fear of being forgotten ..or it being as if she never existed! Time is the big theme in this story!
By focusing on each man’s “trouble,” she doesn’t have to face her own feelings of loss. She ran away from her family, she ran away from her physicians, by living in this tapestry of Brooklyn Heights, she can live out her dreams in her own world. Alphonso is the only person who grounds her, understands her situation and assists. He’s the guy who sees all these projects come and go.
She looked at Gordon pretty pathetically. If she could compare Charlie to Gordon, Charlie would be with her.
I think Alphonso would notify Klem and Charlie if she were dying. That’s my only thought that turns my heart around when I recall the ending.
La Mujer confía en el hombre que le dé esa confianza.
Si el hombre no es de fiar , la mujer no debe confiar.
La mujer no debe confiar alocadamente en algún hombre
that split second facial twitch from sandy @ 6:28, such a fantastic actress
Perfect performance, to the smallest details.
I remember this film being called something else.. Love me some Anthony Newly
What a bittersweet love story! You just want to clobber Sara! I saw this movie as a kid and just like RobMac states, I remembered almost all those wonderful details, especially the ending. As for the film makers and actors of the remake....
SHAME ON YOU!! Why the hell did you bother?
***** Bastards! Robbing our precious time and dollars.
The blending was great. Thank you.
u must be a k reeves fan denise ; this is a great movie ; the 2001 is not even the same movie ; its not in brooklyn heights and i think the character names changed . its a movie with the same name.also charley wants to hold on to november , not sara
I love this movie, hate the ending. True to life though.
I too hate the ending. So we just need to make up our own.
On the contrary, I loved the ending. The movie would not have been as memorable if Sara changed her mind.
Newley helped write the words to this song.
Newley didn't "help" write the words - he wrote them. He was a brilliant singer-songwriter, working mostly with composer Leslie Bricusse.
Estas localidades de filmación son reales? Existen realmente?
I loved Newley when he was in most all of the movies he made. A brilliant actor, genius composer, but not really his singing. It's like he sings by sticking his tongue out as far as he can, and saying aaaaaooooowwwwww. But so what ... he was charming and brilliant.
@2:33 What's that music that just started in the middle of a very utter scene?? Shhh.. turn that off. 😄 I want to feel the moment. Ooh, I like it when a man insists solid on keeping on going. His true colors show right there... not to mention true emotion and total interest. I got shivers!! 🥰
Unless it appeared lust doing it, I'll split my bag into over his head. 😆
wow.
why did Sara tell charley to leave he only wanted to stay for a author night
2019
Dolce novembre
I agree with RobMac
Welp. I'm angry now .
....... anything would have been better than that blank stare......
Blank? Oh, Ann, it's an expression that says everything!
Yes! I should have clarified - it was Sandy's blank stare I spoke. Anthony is, as always, perfect. Thank you. Ann
Ann Ingram I think Sandy's performance in this scene is sublime. Yes, it's understated, but it's far from blank to me. There's so much pain beneath the surface, especially when she turns her back to him. She's so close to succumbing to the desire to ask him to stay, while warring with the need to let him go and thereby avoid the suffering they'll both endure if he does stay. Ahh, this scene really moves me! I think it's perfection - I wouldn't want some sappy, 'typical Hollywood' ending. It's tragic, and it's beautifully so.
I didn't like the ending. She is a deeply cruel person. Regardless of whether or not she were terminally ill. Even I would say she brought the disease upon herself with such a cold heart.
oh youre silly, its such a sad and beautiful ending. its so base minded to view sara as being cold and cruel.
@@pongkong I'm also sure that cabinet full of daily medications wasn't doing any wonders for her mental and emotional health. She is emotionally numb. Not in her right mind. Pursuing Charlie, which is what she did. It was she who initiated the relationship. Then after all he did to prove his love and commitment, including one thousand calendar cut-outs of Novembers.
@TruthMaster2020 I read recently that this movie was remade in 2002 with Keanu Reeves. I've yet to get around to seeing.
@@Ortzmet Human nature...
@@Ortzmet That remake does not contribute anything, better stay with the memory of the original. As I remember it, its ending is more protracted and less poignant, though I saw it some ten years ago, I don't remember it in detail.
A nice bittersweet romance flick but I think both leading stars lacked chemistry that could make it a lot more believable. Anyhow, I like the movie
I much prefer the 2001 film with K Reeves. It had more emotions. Throughout this movie Sara acting was boring, and she didn't show any real emotion of falling in love, and, that she wanted to hold on to November. Acting was flat and dull, but the story was lovely.
She loved him, just couldn't let go. Dennis' acting is excellent.