Quartet
Somerset Maugham introduces four of his tales in this anthology film: "The Facts of Life," "The Alien Corn," "The Kite," and "The Colonel's Lady."
Somerset Maugham introduces four of his tales in this anthology film: "The Facts of Life," "The Alien Corn," "The Kite," and "The Colonel's Lady."
W. Somerset Maugham
Himself
Basil Radford
Henry Garnet (segment "The Facts of Life")
Naunton Wayne
Leslie (segment "The Facts of Life")
Mai Zetterling
Jeanne (segment "The Facts of Life")
Ian Fleming
Ralph (segment "The Facts of Life")
Jack Raine
Thomas (segment "The Facts of Life")
Angela Baddeley
Mrs. Garnet (segment "The Facts of Life")
James Robertson Justice
Branksome (segment "The Facts of Life")
Jack Watling
Nicky Garnet (segment "The Facts of Life")
Somerset Maugham introduces four of his tales in this anthology film: "The Facts of Life," "The Alien Corn," "The Kite," and "The Colonel's Lady."
Introduced by the man himself, this is a compendium of four short stories from W. Somerset Maugham. Each deals with a scenario that looks at human nature, love, trust and integrity amongst a myriad of other emotions with the four directors taking a different slant to each of the tales. The cast is superb - all four feature perfectly fitting characters with the likes of Cecil Parker, Nora Swinburne, Mai Zetterling, Ian Fleming, George Cole, Honor Blackman and Dirk Bogarde all working their magic with the gently comedic writing. My favourite is probably the last one ("The Colonel's Lady") with Parker and Swinburne - it has something particularly classy and poignant about it as a married couple for over 30 years hit a few unexpected bumps on their otherwise tranquil road - she has published a book suggesting that she may have been unfaithful some years ago - before the couple address the effects time has had on their relationship. It is engagingly constructed and the stories, though different, are complementary to each other leaving us with a feeling akin to enjoying a good three course meal...
A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.
A fictionalised exploration of Beethoven's life in his final days working on his Ninth Symphony. It is 1824. Beethoven is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A copyist is urgently needed to help the composer. A fictional character is introduced in the form of a young conservatory student and aspiring composer named Anna Holtz. The mercurial Beethoven is skeptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece but slowly comes to trust in Anna's assistance and in the end becomes quite fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence in his life is an absolute necessity. Her deep understanding of his work is such that she even corrects mistakes he has made, while her passionate personality opens a door into his private world.
A filmmaker talks about his work and love life with an unseen friend behind the camera. We also watch four of his short films.
Three childhood friends, Martha, Walter and Sam, share a terrible secret. Over time, the ambitious Martha and the pusillanimous Walter have married. She is a cold businesswoman; he is the district attorney: a perfect combination to dominate the corrupt city of Iverstown at will. But the unexpected return of Sam, after years of absence, deeply disturbs the life of the odd couple.
Amid the glittering casinos of Macau, a gambler running from his past—and his debts—becomes fascinated by an enigmatic woman at the baccarat table.
In this extraordinary story of an ordinary man, Charles 'Chuck' Krantz experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.
After her stay-at-home husband leaves her, a workaholic lawyer finds that she is not completely up to the tasks of caring for her young son, ailing father and household all by herself.
A jazz musician seeks refuge from a lynch mob on a remote island, where he meets a hostile game warden and the young object of his attentions.
An aging gambler on a losing streak attempts to rob a casino in Monte Carlo. But someone's already tipped off the cops before he even makes a move.
A famous horror writer finds inspiration for her next book after she and her husband take in a young couple.