The End of the Affair (1955)

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Lenore J. Coffee (writer)
Graham Greene (novel)

Release Date:

May 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

In wartorn London Maurice Bendrix falls in love with neighbor Sarah Miles. They begin an illicit romance behind Sarah's husband's back...

Plot Keywords:

Speech | Diary | Promise | Private Detective | Writer

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Sarah Miles
Van Johnson	...	Maurice Bendrix
John Mills	...	Albert Parkis
Peter Cushing	...	Henry Miles
Michael Goodliffe	...	Smythe
Stephen Murray	...	Father Crompton
Charles Goldner	...	Savage
Nora Swinburne	...	Mrs. Bertram
Frederick Leister	...	Dr. Collingwood
Mary Williams	...	Maid
O'Donovan Shiell	...	Doctor
Elsie Wagstaff	...	Bendrix Landlady
Christopher Warbey	...	Lancelot Parkis
Nan Munro	...	Mrs. Tomkins
Joyce Carey	...	Miss Palmer

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Chester Terrace, Regent's Park, London, England, UK

Company:

Coronado Productions

Trivia:

Gregory Peck was offered the male lead.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the story is taking place during and just after World War II, 1944-1946, all of Deborah Kerr's clothing and hairstyles are strictly mid-1950's; there are even some 1950's vintage automobiles visible in the background in many scenes.

Quotes:

Sarah Miles: [to Father Compton] ... I know that it sounds absurd now, but I thought I'd prayed him alive. That *is* absurd, isn't it?... But people don't come alive; when they're dead, they're dead as mutton. Well, at any rate, I prayed, I... I made that stupid promise, and then he... he walked into the room. So it was all a mistake...
Sarah Miles: If there is a god, then he put the thought of that prayer in my mind, and I hate him for it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Grosse Pointe: The End of the Affair (#1.14)" (2001)

Heavy going...tedious love affair against war background...

The first disadvantage of THE END OF THE AFFAIR is that the star chemistry between DEBORAH KERR and VAN JOHNSON is not there. Each does a respectable job as two people burdened under the strain of a doomed love affair, but the motivations are murky, the talk is endless and the resolution seems more like a cop-out than anything else.

The second disadvantage is that this is from a novel by Graham Greene, a writer whose works don't seem to translate well to the screen--too intellectual, too complex and too pseudo-religious for their own good, with the exception of THE THIRD MAN.

And last but not least, the story itself is dull--the "she loves me, she loves me not" theme goes back and forth between Kerr and Johnson with no meeting of the minds to bring them together. Finally, it becomes tiresome to see both of them wallowing in self-pity because their love cannot be consummated.

PETER CUSHING, as the mild-mannered husband who is clueless about his wife's "problems" is effective and natural enough in the sort of low-key performance one doesn't expect from him. JOHN MILLS does nicely as the detective hired by Johnson to spy on Kerr, adding a bit of much needed humor to the rather dour storyline.

Downbeat romance with mismatched stars in the leading roles, it never amounts to much. Someone like DIRK BOGARDE might have been able to be create a more believable portrait than Johnson does and at least provide the missing chemistry with Kerr. No matter, it's a tiresome tale of mutual distrust that kills any chance of a relationship.