The Night of the Iguana
The Night of the Iguana

Movie spotlight

The Night of the Iguana

1964
Movie
118 min
English

A defrocked Episcopal clergyman leads a bus-load of middle-aged Baptist women on a tour of the Mexican coast and comes to terms with the failure haunting his life.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes75%
Google Users80%
Director: John HustonGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

A defrocked Episcopal priest, now working as a tour guide in Mexico, struggles with his faith and his libido. He finds himself stranded at a decaying hotel run by a lonely widow, where his emotional and spiritual crisis deepens amidst a cast of troubled souls. The arrival of an artist and her family further complicates the tense atmosphere, leading to a night of reckoning.

Critical Reception

The film was critically acclaimed, particularly for its performances and John Huston's direction, capturing the mood and themes of Tennessee Williams' play. While some found it slow-paced, it was generally praised for its mature handling of complex characters and psychological depth.

What Reviewers Say

  • Richard Burton delivers a powerful, tormented performance as the fallen priest.

  • Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr are praised for their compelling portrayals of complex women.

  • John Huston's direction masterfully evokes the sultry, claustrophobic atmosphere of the setting.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's dramatic intensity and strong acting, with many finding the performances by the lead actors particularly memorable. Some viewers noted the film's mature themes and slow build-up as significant strengths.

Awards & Accolades

Deborah Kerr was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best British Actress.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which was a relatively small and undeveloped village at the time. Its filming brought significant international attention to the area, contributing to its later growth as a tourist destination.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Though we don’t really know quite why at the time, it’s fairly clear the the “Rev. Shannon” (Richard Burton) has rather lost the confidence of his flock and so it’s not really surprising to find him now tour-guiding some evangelist American...

Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Melodrama on the Mexican Coast with Burton, Gardner and Kerr**_ Released in 1964 and directed by John Huston based on Tennessee Williams' play, "The Night of the Iguana" stars Richard Burton as a defrocked Episcopal minister who resor...