Vera Donovan was the most riveting character in this movie. I loved Kathy Bates as Delores but the character Vera upstaged her. You wouldn’t know it by this scene but Vera actually had a quiet respect & love for Delores. I loved everything about this movie: women teaching other women how to survive.
You are both right. As a man, this movie had a deep impact on me, not just because Bates' glorious performance, but also for the location how it was taken away from the mainstream to isolation, and how it plays whether what she done was right. She knows she did wrong albeit protecting her daughter, and she carries it throughout her life. King has always been amazing at portraying strong and conflicted people.
You can infer on Vera's life in just that 5 seconds she spoke to her husband Jack, he ignored her didn't even have the courtesy to answer her acted like she was an annoying fly buzzing around. Any woman married to such a man for such a long time would become bitter, oh you can ask why doesn't she leave him especially when she knows he is having an affair, maybe because she feels the rich lifestyle is owed to her as payment for putting up with him and she doesn't have the courage to be stripped off the only thing that keeps her going.
They ended up the best of friends right up til the very end, Vera lied to the cops and said Dolores stayed at the Eclipse party working the same time Joe’s time of death was calculated but really let her leave early when she wouldn’t be missed or seen leaving the party and encouraged her to kill Joe, this movie is AMAZING
"Husband's die all the time Delores...theyre driving down a dark rainy road and suddenly their brakes fail...an accident..." the way she delivered those lines...chilling! But I get the message!!!
@@robind700 Hopefully you saw Judy Parfitt in the Jewel in the Crown series. That's where she shined as a wonderfully alcoholic snobbish bitch before this. Not sure why she stays with Call the Midwife unless its for the money and lack of roles.
@@clementjb i think Vera's is perfect. She does it in such a way that whenever the Maine accent comes out, it seemed like a slip of the tongue. A reminder that she was not that different from Dolores.
The movie and novel are called "Dolores Claiborne" for a good reason. It's a complete character study. You understand everything about her, her life, her problems, her reasons... it's terrifying, but totally grounded, on reality. Kathy bates was perfect, you always believe Dolores is a real person.
@@shaunadamson4634 That's not all that funny bruh. It reminds me of my late mother. Did you ever live with anyone who had OCD like that? Hell, I remember the time she redid the bathroom all in white and flipped out one day screaming and yelling and accused me of ruining her 'beautiful new bathroom.' She literally pulled me down on my knees to see this tiny little pencil mark my shoe must have left on the floor. Which, by the way, wiped up with a damp paper towel.
Unfortunately I was the only child in a home with a violent, alcoholic father and a mother who did her best to protect me while she was beaten, slapped, had hot coffee thrown in her face, was thrown down a flight of stairs and almost strangled by him. Fortunately he totally ignored me but I was terrified of him. There was no easy way for a woman with a young child to leave a man in the 50's - no women's shelters, if a woman was married bank accounts and credit cards were all in the husband's name, never mind my mother did all of the household accounting. When she was finally able to get away from him when I was 17, she had built up fantastic credit...for my father...and had to start over. What a strong, brave woman she was...and still is at 86. In our childhood beautiful suburban home where no one knew what went on behind closed doors, there was a beautiful fireplace. My mother told me in later years that several times my father (6'2" and a former boxer in the Marines; my mother a delicate 5'7") was backing her up into a corner beside the fireplace and she prayed, "Please, Lord, don't let me get near the iron fire poker." She was afraid out of instinct she would grab it to defend herself...and likely land in jail. "The Burning Bed" is a very hard movie for me to watch.
@@SonshineLady7 Soooooooo glad your survival (and triumph over adversity) was an inspiration for mine (mind?)... sometimes it seems like we walk a circuitous route, a twisted path, a long and winding road... to arrive at a place & time (Time & Place) where "peace, sharing, and engaged in the lives of others" lives (and thrives). God Bless your little 💗
The Tommyknocker Man It was cleverly Filmed. You hear Dolores in the present talking about Vera as though all they did was fight, but you don’t see it in any of the flashback scenes. The flashback scenes alone suggest that they got along just fine, A proper build up to the twist. But done in such a way that the audience can play along and solve the mystery.
It really wasn't so much respect as it was this dark secret that each of them had and knew that forced them to stick together. They each did something that they thought would make their lives easier but it made them prisoners bound to each other.
The slight impressed look on Vera’s poker face at the 1:00 mark after Delores talking about her hard work in the past, the first slight sign on Vera’s respect for Delores. Delores respected Vera after she sent her home to finish Joe, took longer but both wound up with lots of respect for each other.
God I love this film. Both actresses are remarkable. Kathy Bates is a gem in all she does. I forget the other actress’ name, but she’s brilliant. These two had a chemistry on screen that was magical.
As someone who has lived through abuse, I feel for Dolores and Vera. But really, Selena is the one I felt for the most, coupled with her mother. This poor child never asked for any of this.
I recommend watching the miniseries "The Jewel in the Crown", circa 1984. Ms. Parfitt plays a right royal bitch in that one, and the entire production is magnificant.
Judy Parfitt is an amazing actress. I first saw her in "Call the Midwife" then was delighted to watch her in "Dolores Claiborne." They played off each other so well.
Thanks for posting this. It is an extremely underrated movie and, arguably, the best adaption of a Stephen King book. How Kathy Bates and Judy Parfitt did Oscar nominations for their roles is baffling.
Both of these actresses deserved an Oscar nomination for their roles. Books are always better than their film versions. It's just a fact. Most times when I see a movie after having read the book, no matter how good the movie is, I find myself feeling disappointed at all the parts that get left out. Movies end up gutting the books just because of the time limit alone. But this movie...it did the book justice and then some. I can only think of one other (Fight Club) that I feel that way about. Kathy Bates and Judy Parfitt were perfect for these roles. Jennifer Jason Leigh as well.
Vera left Dolores her fortune when she died since she was the only one who put up with her for so long, so it worked out. Doesn't justify it, mind you, but at least there's a happy ending.
From the wave vera’s face shifted when she heard her say “I was cleaning three floors all by myself”, I think she was impressed and had already decided that she was gonna get the job. Looking back I don’t think Vera was ever mean to her, certainly not by comparison to the others. I think Vera respected her but they’re ahead always guarded herself by being as she said “a high riding bitch“. I think it was a façade she used because she knew no other way to protect herself. Hence how she was always stern with Dolores but never cruel. It was a way of showing respect without showing respect. I don’t think she minded Dolores regarding her as a friend, she just didn’t want it to be in a way that would give people in town the idea that she had gone soft.
when I was a little girl I use to love to role play dolores and act like Vera... I'd dress up in my costumes and act richy and snobby then I'd go on my second act as Dolores. great movie
I just finished reading the book for the 2nd time. One thing about this scene is off is when Vera looks down when she says $12.00 a week. In the book Vera would have kept her gaze fixed on Dolores as she offered the $12.00 a week.
Masterpiece is often thrown around too frequently, but this film is such. And the acting is superb. Stephen King adaptations often suffered from poor lack of quality from a decent literary source to the big screen, I think the movie also succeeds in portraying the undertone in many of King's writings that it is the endurance of human nature, that through many a difficulty can still find a way. There is a wonderful and emotional payoff at the end of the movie, with bittersweet...
I've been to Vera's house multiple time since the filming. Still looks exactly the same. Dolores' old house is not there, but the locale is beautiful and still looks the same (Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia). I've also been there recently. Pretty much visited every single location of this film.
@@josebro352 I believe by the time they get to the well and you can see the bottom, it's a set. Everything during that eclipse scene was a set. I never found the well myself and I ran around the entire property taking pics. lol.
@@maxime7 LOL. I live in Massachusetts and if I ever get up to Nova Scotia Vera's house is gonna be the first thing I want to see. Imagine seeing a clothesline on the property with white sheets? LOL I loved the area where Selena stands by herself looking out at the water in the scene where Dolores says it's cold as Christmas. Where is that? It's such a beautiful locale.
@@josebro352 awesome Jose! So that scene with dolores and selena is at the bottom of the hill in Blue Rocks along the water’s edge. I actually goodled blue rocks to look for this spot and could only really find it when i drove up to it. It’s in a tiny dirt road you have to take to get to this settings. About a 5 minute drive in.
1:55 mark. Definitely correct in the sign of the times. Spic and Span was huge in the 70s. They paid attention to detail in making the movie. To have come up with that particular detail, very good.
The complete disregard and disrespect that Jack had for her, kept hitting the balls, if it hits her then be damned. One of the many subtleties that make this an interesting film.
Holy shit, that little exchange between Vera and the prospective employee she dismissed right before Dolores applied for the job is such a perfect example of 'show don't tell' as well as foreshadowing. This movie is amazing.
"..what a bitch Vera Donovan is." Man I love this woman. I am a fan of Misery but Kathy played Dolores so well I cannot decide which one of these movies is my favorite.
Its called untreated OCD ! We have our winter home in Palm Springs FL . But I do not ask for 6 pins . I hate sheets that are not dried in the dryer !!!
I love how Dolores gains Vera's respect. She kept up with Vera's rather extreme demands, worked her ass off, and in the end, they formed a rather close bond. Vera's not a warm person, she's cold as ice. But when she realizes Dolores' awful situation, she offers uncharacteristic sympathy and even some advice, however shady, to help Dolores with the monster she's married to.
I can relate. Years ago I was renting a huge house in Salem, Massachusetts. The landlord was pretty cool until I lost my job. When I told him he said he would lower my rent if I did work for him around the house. It sounded like a great idea but let me tell you it WASN'T. He turned out to be just like Vera Donovan. Everything had to be perfect. Floors meticulously scrubbed. Beds made a certain way. Ugh! I actually used to joke to my friends that I felt like Dolores Claiborne. It was a terrible experience. I would've preferred to just pay the full rent or leave than go through that torture.
It may look that way at first glance, but the daughter was really messed up from the abuse she endured in childhood. She had blocked it out. As she started to remember, she started to understand what her mother did for her. Yes, the daughter was angry and a drunk. And didn’t show any tolerance for her mother, but there were definitely reasons for that.
Vera: "What's the matter Deloes, did we wake up with a hair across our ass?" My other favorite was from Delores: Well, if it ain't the grand puba of upper butt crack! lol🤣
Watched this amazing movie many times. Just now seen the person shaking the carpet out on the veranda 0:29 mark. And I re watched the trailer. I think there are some scenes there that did not make the movie. So I do believe there must be unused footage, which I would love to see.
@@heathercontois4501 Judy Parfitt wasn't in Titanic. I think you're thinking of Frances Fisher. She played Kate Winslet's mother. She does look a little like Judy.
Looking at that scene now as an adult I feel bad for Vera I didn't see it as a child when I 1st saw this movie I just thought she was just so mean now I understand why.
She was a victim of the times. Today, she may have been the CEO of a large company. But back then, a woman’s best bet was to marry a rich man and try to make the best of it. But Vera was intelligent enough to know that she was not living her best life. And after the betrayal of her husband having affairs, she took matters into her own hands. What she did was not legal, and definitely not ethical, but it was a way out that would not leave her destitute or in jail. I can understand that, if not condone it.
@@TheJoker27780 yes, as your probably aware though the well off pay as cheap as they can,.and there's always someone desperate enough who needs a living..unfortunately most of us will be in that same boat in a few years, if the biggies get their way.. you think we have a home now?.