Maurice (1987) directed by James Ivory

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Director: James Ivory

Writers:E.M. Forster (from the novel by)
Kit Hesketh-Harvey (screenplay) and
James Ivory (screenplay)

Release Date: September 1987 (Venice Film Festival, Italy)
18 September 1987 (USA)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Plot: Set against the stifling conformity of pre-World War I English society, E.M. Forster’s Maurice is a story of coming to terms with one’s sexuality and identity in the face of disapproval and misunderstanding. Maurice Hall (James Wilby) and Clive Durham (Hugh Grant) find themselves in love at Cambridge. In a time when homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment, the two must keep their feelings for one another a complete secret, even though Clive refuses to allow their relationship to move beyond the boundaries of "platonic" love. After a friend is arrested and disgraced for "the unspeakable crime of the Greeks," Clive abandons his forbidden love, marries, and enters into the political arena. Maurice, however, struggles with questions of his identity and self-confidence, even seeking the help of a hypnotist to rid himself of his undeniable urges. But while staying with Clive and his shallow wife, Anne, Maurice is seduced by the affectionate and yearning servant Alec Scudder, (Rupert Graves), an event that brings about profound changes in Maurice’s life and outlook. Sparking direction by James Ivory, a distinguished performance from the ensemble cast, and a charged score by Richard Robbins all combine to create a film of undeniable power, one that is both romantic and moving, and a story of love and self-discovery for all audiences.

Awards: 1988 Oscar Nomination as Best Costume Design (Jenny Beavan, John Bright), Academy Awards, USA
1987 Best Actor Award to Hugh Grant tied with James Wilby, Venice Film Festival.
1987 Golden Osella for Best Music to Richard Robbins, Venice Film Festival.
1987 Silver Lion to James Ivory, Venice Film Festival.
1987 Golden Lion Nomination to James Ivory, Venice Film Festival.

@IMDb
@Amazon: Maurice
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video





























































Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
James Wilby ... Maurice Hall
Hugh Grant ... Clive Durham
Rupert Graves ... Alec Scudder
Denholm Elliott ... Doctor Barry
Simon Callow ... Mr. Ducie
Billie Whitelaw ... Mrs. Hall
Barry Foster ... Dean Cornwallis
Judy Parfitt ... Mrs. Durham
Phoebe Nicholls ... Anne Durham
Patrick Godfrey ... Simcox
Mark Tandy ... Risley
Ben Kingsley ... Lasker-Jones
Kitty Aldridge ... Kitty Hall
Helena Michell ... Ada Hall
Catherine Rabett ... Pippa Durham
Peter Eyre ... Rev. Borenius
Michael Jenn ... Archie
Mark Payton ... Chapman
Orlando Wells ... Young Maurice
Maria Britneva ... Mrs. Sheepshanks
John Elmes ... Hill
Alan Foss ... Old Man on Train
Philip Fox ... Dr. Jowitt
Olwen Griffiths ... Mrs. Scudder
Chris Hunter ... Fred Scudder
Gerald McArthur ... Undergraduate (as Gerard McArthur)
Breffni McKenna ... Guardsman
Miles Richardson ... Third Undergraduate
Phillida Sewell ... Matron (as Phillada Sewell)
Matthew Sim ... Featherstonhaugh
Andrew St. Clair ... Second Undergraduate
Harriet Thorpe ... Barmaid
Julian Wadham ... Hull
Richard Warner ... Judge
Alan Whybrow ... Mr. Scudder
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean-Marc Barr ... French Collegue (scenes deleted) (uncredited)
Helena Bonham Carter ... Lady at Cricket Match (uncredited)
Adrian Ross Magenty ... Dickie Barry (uncredited)

  
Maurice, Clive &


Alec

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Maurice is one of the most gay romantic movie you can see, and if you think that it was filmed in 1987, it's also pretty daring. It's not only for a "peeping tom" reason that I posted all those screenshot above, but also to give you an idea of how beautiful and tender, is the love between Maurice and Clive, but how more beautiful and more tender and more explicit is the one between Maurice and Alec. Ivory is a master of atmosphere, of the use of warm color to give you the idea and feeling of past times, looking one of his movies, is like looking at a painting of the time, or maybe a faded picture.

I don't remember exactly, I was very young, but I think that I saw first the movie (I was 13 years old and in Italy it was a huge success due to the all the award it gained at the Venice Film Festival) and then I bought the book, with my pocket money I saved right for that. The book was even better than the movie.

I can't find enough words to recommend people to see the movie and read the novel.

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Elisa. I've seen the movie about a year ago and I loved it.
Have a nice Sunday!
Steffi

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have both videotape (a proof of how many year ago I saw it) and DVD, plus I still have my old paperback copy of the book, I bought with my money at 13 years old. It pushed me to read all Forster, Lawrence and other writers of the period books, but Maurice is still my favorite.

[sarahblack5.livejournal.com]

Maurice has always been my favorite by EM Forster as well- it was the first of his books I read

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have some good memories linked to that book, it reminds me of the joy to discover literature in an age when everything was a discovery.

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

Very powerful story. I didn't remember this one until I saw your post.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

After 23 years I thought that maybe there are new spectators that should be aware of its existence.

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

Oh God, Hugh Grant *and* E.M. Forster? ::swoon::

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You didn't know? If not, go to see it, you will love this movie. And also Rupert Graves is not bad ;-)

[bornof-sorrow.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favourites and certainly my favourite EM Forster. I loved the film when I saw it- so beautifully done.

The strain they lived under and the ending - *weeps*

Thanks for reminding me how great it is x A

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's entirely my pleasure and I hope to introduce some new fans to this jewel.

[mondhellnacht.livejournal.com]

I adore this movie and am proud to say I own it on DVD. :-D A true classic.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

The scene of the open window (I believe to remember it was summer and hot) with Alec climbing it to reach Maurice is one of my favorite both in the book than in the movie.

[mondhellnacht.livejournal.com]

My favorite scene in both the book and the movie was when Maurice went to Clive's room and kissed him that first time. :-)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have to confess that, in the end, I prefer Alec to Clive ;-)

[mondhellnacht.livejournal.com]

I prefer Clive because I understand him more and aesthetically I prefer Hugh Grant to Rupert Graves. :-D

Besides, I feel the film did more justice to Clive. Merchant/Ivory productions gave a better explanation for why Clive tried to change. Granted what happened with Risley was never in the book but it makes more sense and is more poignant as it truly frightened Clive into changing and scarred him enough to force the change- whereas in the book nothing of the sort happened. Clive went on vacation and suddenly woke up and decided he wanted vagina over penis and in reality it doesn't work that way.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the book. I love E.M. Forster as a writer- but at the same time I feel he sold Clive and the story short in his depiction of the "change".

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Mmm, maybe Forster was influenced by the time he wrote the book? The said unsaid attitude? True, the book came out in the '70, but I think to have read somewhere that it was in Forster's hands for many years, and all his friends know about it.

BTW Hugh Grant in the movie is stunning, I think it's his best period, he is really beautiful.

[mondhellnacht.livejournal.com]

Yes it was written between 1913-14 and published in 1971. He was definitely influenced, but even then, a situation like the one in the film with Risley's scandal was completely logical and easily understood given what happened with Oscar Wilde- yet, he chose not to use the truth and decided to use the farce of an "epiphany" for Clive. I suppose this could, in itself, be a pointed satire showing how ridiculous society's idea of "changing" is...

It's certainly something I want to research.

Oh and yes, I agree- it was Hugh Grant's best period... likely his best film in my opinion. I really do think that the films he did before 1994 were really good. Well, the period films at least. After 1994 he started making those ridiculous romantic comedies and has now become a cliché.

[dkellergrl.livejournal.com]

My favorite scene in both the book and the movie was when Maurice went to Clive's room and kissed him that first time. :-)

I, also loved that moment, because it wasn't something that I expected of Maurice to do at that time. Yet, in the end, I grew to love Alec Scudder and as much as Clive loved Maurice, he wasn't ready, willing or able to be what he needed at that time. Alec was and I'm glad that E.M. Foster allowed the audience to experience Alec and Maurice's 'happy ending' at the end of the novel.

Maurice played by the rules for such a long time and now that he's able to find Alec and be able to love and receive the same love in return, it was a pleasure to read and see on film.

I love that film and it was around the time that I discovered "Measure of Madness" and "The Lord Won't Mind" by Gordon Merrick. It was 1987 and I was 15 years of age. Changed my life in such a great way.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I think the happy ending was the best move, the majority of classic I read at the time didn't have it, and finding one, so romantic and with an happily ever after was such a wonderful discovery.

[shai285.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting about this movie. I watched it today and it broke me heart a little, but I am so happy that Maurice found love with Alec. They were living in such a difficult time.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to have introduced you to it, and very glad you followed my advice so soon.

[lab-jazz.livejournal.com]

I own this but I've never actually watched it...after looking at those images I'll have to go and dig it up. I Like Hugh grant and all.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's wonderfully directed and also very romantic. I think you will like it.

[kimochi-i.livejournal.com]

ooh. i read, well kinda.. read this book. i loved the beginning w/ maurice and clive but i didnt get to alec. D: i shall download this. thank u!!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Clive is love, Alec is passion... in the end Maurice does a choice ;-)