As countless people on this board have pointed out, comparisons of David Lean's "The Passionate Friends" and David Lean's "Brief Encounter" are inevitable, though probably not correct. This is a very different story.
Told through the narration of the main character, Mary Justin (Ann Todd), it's the story of a man, Steven Stratton (Trevor Howard) and woman (Todd) in love who don't marry because he can't give her the good life. Instead, Mary marries financier Howard Justin (Claude Rains), whom she likes but doesn't love. Howard knows this, and, not being in love with her, so he thinks, doesn't mind.
Five years later, she meets Steven again, and they become re-involved. Steven is unattached and, when Howard finds out, he expects Mary to run off with him. She doesn't. She asks him to leave and not see her again.
Ten years later, while Howard is on a trip, both Mary and Steven run into one another in Switzerland. This time, Steven is happily married. Nothing goes on between them, but Howard doesn't believe Mary when she tells him that.
"Passionate Friends" is an interesting psychological drama, really focusing on Howard and Mary. Claude Rains dominates throughout the film - restrained through most of it, when he lets loose, it's really something. Howard is very likable as Steven, who is jerked around by Mary over the years.
My feeling is that the film was supposed to focus on Mary, but this was derailed by Claude Rains' performance and Todd's (Mrs. Lean) detached quality. She's very good, but the character remains an enigma. Mary can't make a commitment. At the end, when she realizes the devastation the situation will bring, she's ready to sacrifice everything so that it doesn't.
Parts of "Passionate Friends" are very strong, but some of it, due to the flashback within a flashback, gets a little confusing. Nevertheless, the performances are strong, and, if it's not entirely successful, it's at least a fascinating "not entirely successful" instead of just being bad.
Told through the narration of the main character, Mary Justin (Ann Todd), it's the story of a man, Steven Stratton (Trevor Howard) and woman (Todd) in love who don't marry because he can't give her the good life. Instead, Mary marries financier Howard Justin (Claude Rains), whom she likes but doesn't love. Howard knows this, and, not being in love with her, so he thinks, doesn't mind.
Five years later, she meets Steven again, and they become re-involved. Steven is unattached and, when Howard finds out, he expects Mary to run off with him. She doesn't. She asks him to leave and not see her again.
Ten years later, while Howard is on a trip, both Mary and Steven run into one another in Switzerland. This time, Steven is happily married. Nothing goes on between them, but Howard doesn't believe Mary when she tells him that.
"Passionate Friends" is an interesting psychological drama, really focusing on Howard and Mary. Claude Rains dominates throughout the film - restrained through most of it, when he lets loose, it's really something. Howard is very likable as Steven, who is jerked around by Mary over the years.
My feeling is that the film was supposed to focus on Mary, but this was derailed by Claude Rains' performance and Todd's (Mrs. Lean) detached quality. She's very good, but the character remains an enigma. Mary can't make a commitment. At the end, when she realizes the devastation the situation will bring, she's ready to sacrifice everything so that it doesn't.
Parts of "Passionate Friends" are very strong, but some of it, due to the flashback within a flashback, gets a little confusing. Nevertheless, the performances are strong, and, if it's not entirely successful, it's at least a fascinating "not entirely successful" instead of just being bad.
