Music played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson. Producer: Antony Darnborough. Executive producer: Sydney Box. Copyright 4 September 1950 by General Film Distributors, Ltd. A Sydney Box Production for Gainsborough Pictures, London. Presented by J. Arthur Rank. Released in the USA by Paramount: June 1951. New York opening at the Sutton: 10 October 1950. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: 4 September 1950. Australian release through British Empire Films: 22 February 1952. 92 minutes. (Available on an excellent Network DVD).
NOTES: One of the Ten Best Films of 1950. — Bosley Crowther in The New York Times. Number 15 box-office attraction at Australian ticket windows for 1952. 17th most popular film released in Great Britain in 1950 (based on box-office receipts).
Second of the three portmanteau movies, based on short stories by W. Somerset Maugham. The others, Quartet (1948) and Encore (1952), are also available on Network DVD.
COMMENT: What a film! The critics — highbrow, middlebrow, lowbrow — all loved it and the public flocked to it in droves. What's more important, it's still a powerful, effective and engrossing entertainment to- day.
There are four reasons for this success. One, it's superbly written. Second, it's beautifully acted by a star-studded cast, — talent in every role from the most minor extras to the major principals. Three, it's directed with unobtrusive finesse and consummate polish by Annakin and French, who both know how to get the best out of their players and put a story across with maximum impact. And four, Box and Darnborough have produced it with loving care.
This film also has a wonderfully atmospheric music score, superlative photography, sharp film editing, and attractive sets, — in short, creative artistry in every department.
OTHER VIEWS: "Trio" offers crisp human comedy in its first two sections and the human drama of life in a sanatorium for tuberculosis in its third. And even in this episode, there is a good deal of the finely etched, closely observed character comedy that is typical of Somerset Maugham. — Duncan Blair in Picturegoer.
This well-chosen selection of Somerset Maugham short stories is an admirable follow-up to "Quartet". It bears out my contention that short dramas and comedies can be made into first-class screen entertainment. — Lionel Collier in Picturegoer.
What a pleasant change it is to find a film written as well as this one! Maugham is a master storyteller and together with R.C. Sheriff and Noel Langley he has adapted another three of his short stories to the screen. In my opinion, the last story, "Sanatorium", is allowed to run too long and could do with some trimming. Harold French's meticulous direction doesn't help matters either, albeit the episode is very capably acted, particularly by Finlay Currie and John Laurie as a couple of quarrelsome Scotsmen. The Scottish locations are also most attractive.
It might be complained that the other stories are no more than little bits of whimsy or character conceits, but how well Hayter carries off the title role of the Verger! In my opinion, Nigel Patrick is much less successful as Mr. Know-All — he is somewhat handicapped by an obviously phony accent, and Annakin's stolid direction which I feel is somewhat lacking in imagination.
In all three stories, the support players are provided with some scrumptious dialogue and have a grand time. Credits are capable and production values leave nothing to be desired. — JHR writing as George Addison.
NOTES: One of the Ten Best Films of 1950. — Bosley Crowther in The New York Times. Number 15 box-office attraction at Australian ticket windows for 1952. 17th most popular film released in Great Britain in 1950 (based on box-office receipts).
Second of the three portmanteau movies, based on short stories by W. Somerset Maugham. The others, Quartet (1948) and Encore (1952), are also available on Network DVD.
COMMENT: What a film! The critics — highbrow, middlebrow, lowbrow — all loved it and the public flocked to it in droves. What's more important, it's still a powerful, effective and engrossing entertainment to- day.
There are four reasons for this success. One, it's superbly written. Second, it's beautifully acted by a star-studded cast, — talent in every role from the most minor extras to the major principals. Three, it's directed with unobtrusive finesse and consummate polish by Annakin and French, who both know how to get the best out of their players and put a story across with maximum impact. And four, Box and Darnborough have produced it with loving care.
This film also has a wonderfully atmospheric music score, superlative photography, sharp film editing, and attractive sets, — in short, creative artistry in every department.
OTHER VIEWS: "Trio" offers crisp human comedy in its first two sections and the human drama of life in a sanatorium for tuberculosis in its third. And even in this episode, there is a good deal of the finely etched, closely observed character comedy that is typical of Somerset Maugham. — Duncan Blair in Picturegoer.
This well-chosen selection of Somerset Maugham short stories is an admirable follow-up to "Quartet". It bears out my contention that short dramas and comedies can be made into first-class screen entertainment. — Lionel Collier in Picturegoer.
What a pleasant change it is to find a film written as well as this one! Maugham is a master storyteller and together with R.C. Sheriff and Noel Langley he has adapted another three of his short stories to the screen. In my opinion, the last story, "Sanatorium", is allowed to run too long and could do with some trimming. Harold French's meticulous direction doesn't help matters either, albeit the episode is very capably acted, particularly by Finlay Currie and John Laurie as a couple of quarrelsome Scotsmen. The Scottish locations are also most attractive.
It might be complained that the other stories are no more than little bits of whimsy or character conceits, but how well Hayter carries off the title role of the Verger! In my opinion, Nigel Patrick is much less successful as Mr. Know-All — he is somewhat handicapped by an obviously phony accent, and Annakin's stolid direction which I feel is somewhat lacking in imagination.
In all three stories, the support players are provided with some scrumptious dialogue and have a grand time. Credits are capable and production values leave nothing to be desired. — JHR writing as George Addison.