Monday 9 April 2018

The Passionate Friends (1948, released 1949 David Lean)

Considerably reworking a 1913 book by H.G. Wells, Eric Ambler's script was originally intended for Ronnie Neame to direct for Cineguild. Lean hated his script and set to work adapting it with Stanley Haynes. Neame started directing an unfinished and not right script and with poor rushes resulting, Lean took over, and that was the end of their relationship.

Successfully cinematic in many places, e.g. those short flashbacks in the car, abruptly interrupted, the moments with the theatre ticket, and when Ann Todd returns from her mountain excursion with Trevor Howard whilst Claude Rains plays with his binoculars. (Lean, who fell in love with Todd in Switzerland, thus in fact becoming the titular couple, is the one piloting the motor boat.) Betty Ann Davies is the secretary.

V. professionally put together - direction, photography (Guy Green, operator Ozzie Morris) and editing (Lean allowing Geoffrey Foot to do it). Richard Addinsell provides music.


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