Maurice

Theater date: 1987-09-18

Blu-ray release date: N/A

Rated: N/A

7.61 (IMDB)

Genre: DramaRomance

Language: en

Status: Released

Length: 2h 20min

Languages:

Latin
English

Description:

After his lover rejects him, Maurice attempts to come to terms with his sexuality within the restrictiveness of Edwardian society.

Top Cast >

James Wilby

As Maurice Hall

Hugh Grant

As Clive Durham

Rupert Graves

As Alec Scudder

Denholm Elliott

As Dr. Barry

Simon Callow

As Mr. Ducie

Billie Whitelaw

As Mrs. Hall

Barry Foster

As Dean Cornwallis

Judy Parfitt

As Mrs. Durham

Phoebe Nicholls

As Anne Durham

Patrick Godfrey

As Simcox

Mark Tandy

As Risley

Ben Kingsley

As Lasker-Jones

Kitty Aldridge

As Kitty Hall

Helena Michell

As Ada Hall

Catherine Rabett

As Pippa Durham

Peter Eyre

As Rev. Borenius

Michael Jenn

As Archie

Mark Payton

As Chapman

Orlando Wells

As Young Maurice

Maria Britneva

As Mrs. Sheepshanks

John Elmes

As Hill

Alan Foss

As Old Man on Train

Philip Fox

As Dr. Jowitt

Olwen Griffiths

As Mrs. Scudder

Christopher Hunter

As Fred Scudder

Gerald McArthur

As Undergraduate

Breffni McKenna

As Guardsman

Miles Richardson

As Undergraduate

Phillada Sewell

As Matron

Helena Bonham Carter

As Young Lady at Cricket Match (uncredited)

Matthew Sim

As Featherstonaugh

Andrew St. Clair

As Undergraduate

Harriet Thorpe

As Barmaid

Julian Wadham

As Hull

Richard Warner

As Judge

Alan Whybrow

As Mr. Scudder

Jean-Marc Barr

As French Colleague (uncredited)

Serena Gordon

As Gladys Olcott (uncredited)

Christopher Hunter

As Fred Scudder

Top Crew >

James Ivory

Director, Screenplay

Ismail Merchant

Producer

Richard Robbins

Original Music Composer

Pierre Lhomme

Director of Photography

Katherine Wenning

Editor

Kit Hesketh-Harvey

Screenplay

Brian Ackland-Snow

Art Direction, Production Design

Mike Shoring

Sound

Jenny Beavan

Costume Design

Celestia Fox

Casting

John Bright

Costume Design

Paul Bradley

Associate Producer

Kevin Fraser

Grip

Michael Zimbrich

First Assistant Director

Carol Hemming

Hairdresser

Alan Killick

Dialogue Editor

Kevan Barker

First Assistant Director

Amanda Ackland-Snow

Assistant Set Dresser

Andrew Marcus

Assistant Editor

Anna Shepherd

Assistant Sound Editor

Tim Dodd

Focus Puller

Mary Hillman

Makeup Artist

Gerry Altman

Clapper Loader

Tony Lenny

Sound Editor

Lee Cleary

Second Assistant Director

Nicky Kentish Barnes

Production Assistant

Arbell Lowther

Production Secretary

Andrew Morris

Boom Operator

Mark Potter Jr.

Music Editor

Peter James

Art Direction

Dennis Fruin

Property Master

Natasha Grenfell

Location Manager

Raymond Day

Production Supervisor

Tony Woodcock

Camera Operator

Jack Collins

Gaffer

Tom Freeman

Assistant Sound Editor

Howard Lanning

Assistant Sound Editor

Harry Rabinowitz

Conductor

Sunil Kirparam

Production Accountant

Joyce Turner

Production Coordinator

Paolo Mantini

Assistant Hairdresser

Max Hoskins

Assistant Sound Editor

John G. Phelan

Second Assistant Director

Will Tyler

Production Accountant

Nigel Willoughby

Camera Operator

Simon Moseley

Third Assistant Director

Lorely Farley

Continuity

Jane Burton

Wardrobe Assistant

Adrian Ffooks

Stunts

Katya Grenfell

Still Photographer

William Pierce

Co-Costume Designer

Harvey Kip

Stunts

Ray Usher-Cooper

Wardrobe Master

Mira Stout

Unit Publicist

John Gardey

Still Photographer

Maggie Parsons

Location Manager

Chris Allies

Title Designer

E.M. Forster

Novel

Reviews:

CinemaSerf (7/10)

James Wilby is at his best here depicting the eponymous E.M. Forster character who takes rather a shine to his university colleague "Clive" (Hugh Grant). Of course not only is same sex fun illegal, it's looked upon very unfavourably by the Oxford set - even if most of them have had the odd dabble themselves. "Clive" is not really the commitment sort - he cares more for conforming and taking his well-heeled place in society, but "Maurice" seems more dyed-in-the-wool. His sexuality less fluid and his frustrations ever increasing. It's on a trip to see his friend and new wife "Anne" (Phoebe Nicholls) that he encounters their charming under-gamekeeper "Scudder" (Rupert Graves) and despite the differences in their social standing, at at some peril to his reputation, they embark on something that could just change both of their lives. Whilst the whole thing is set amongst the rarified environment of the English upper classes, it's still a potent reminder of life in a proscriptive society that though nothing of jail with hard labour for men caught with other men. There's a strong supporting cast, typical of these quality Marchant Ivory productions - Simon Callow, Billie Whitelaw and Judy Parfitt to name but three (I'm sure I saw Helena Bonham Carter in here too) and the look of the film - the settings, costumes and overall production design give it an authenticity and sheen. For me, the film belongs to Graves. His cheeky, well meaning and naive young character epitomising just what was wrong with the very fabric of a society that abhorred and punished his sexuality. With a swipe at the medical professional - and quackery in general - along the way, this whole thing is a classy and stylish assessment of a life that never, quite, feels real.

2024-03-31