Maurice

Play trailer

3:26

Maurice

R

1987

2h 20m

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In 1909, Maurice Hall (James Wilby) enters Cambridge, where he befriends wealthy Clive Durham (Hugh Grant). Clive confesses he is sexually attracted to Maurice, who realizes he is a homosexual when he begins to return Clive's feelings. The two embark on an intense but chaste affair to avoid tarnishing Clive's reputation, but eventually the relationship ends, and Clive marries Anne (Phoebe Nicholls). While visiting Clive, Maurice is drawn toward his friend's servant, Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves).

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Critics Consensus

Maurice sensitively explores the ramifications of forbidden desire with a powerful love story brought to life by the outstanding efforts of a talented cast.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

07/31/2018

4/5

A triumph of the Merchant Ivory aesthetic. The cast are gorgeous. The passion is polite. The conclusion is a little surprising. Well worth reviving.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

The Times (UK)

07/27/2018

4/5

This elegant, heart-rending romance is now ripe for the reclaiming as a gay landmark.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

07/26/2018

5/5

Maurice is a candid, lucid, passionate film.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Jul 20

2.5/5

A rare Merchant Ivory miss, this adaptation of the E. M. Forster novel proved a breakout role for Hugh Grant but manages to make a tale of forbidden love frightfully dull.

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Jul 5

A

(Rupert) Graves has the trickiest part and delivers such a wickedly startling yet authentic performance, brimming with youthful yearning, he should have easily received an Academy Award nomination.

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Lauren Humphries-Brooks

Citizen Dame

04/25/2025

That's what I like about this film: It goes into the social and cultural ramifications of being a gay man.

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Howie B

@Howie10 Jul 8

Another one of those classic films which has been re-released to mark its almost 40th anniversary, and to be part of ‘Pride Month’. Always felt this was one of the most moving films I’d seen displaying the suppression of homosexuality in British society in the very early 20th century (and went on to be problematic for decades to come). A touching yet restrained love story which played out the way many such relationships still do to this day. Fortunately for ‘Maurice’ love conquered all eventually with the superbly played by Rupert Graves’s ‘Alec Scudder’ removing the shackles from James Wilby’s ‘Maurice’ while Grant’s constricted and closeted Clive will resignedly live out his existence under a pretence of being ‘straight’. Know who I’d rather be!

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Jon E.

@jes30 Mar 24

One of the best films of the 1980s, and as rewarding as A Room with a View upon rewatch.

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Kalissa H

@kali_416 Sep 1

I liked the book better, but the movie is descent.

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Jacob B

@RT48293763 03/04/2025

Merchant/Ivory’s underrated gem.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 12/20/2024

What is most welcome about this drama is how the dilemma of homosexuality, at a time when it is a criminal offence, is dealt with in a sensible and intelligent way. To know what a virginal Hugh Grant was doing back then.

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David Lee K

@RT17066284 04/28/2024

Impressive story about a forbidden love. Perfectly cast and set in the most beautiful scenery. What's not to like.

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James Ivory

Director

James Wilby

Maurice Hall

Hugh Grant

Clive Durham

Rupert Graves

Alec Scudder

Denholm Elliott

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Maurice: Trailer 1

3:26

Maurice: Re-Release Trailer

2:21

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Synopsis

In 1909, Maurice Hall (James Wilby) enters Cambridge, where he befriends wealthy Clive Durham (Hugh Grant). Clive confesses he is sexually attracted to Maurice, who realizes he is a homosexual when he begins to return Clive's feelings. The two embark on an intense but chaste affair to avoid tarnishing Clive's reputation, but eventually the relationship ends, and Clive marries Anne (Phoebe Nicholls). While visiting Clive, Maurice is drawn toward his friend's servant, Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves).

Director: James Ivory
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter: Kit Hesketh-Harvey, James Ivory
Distributor: Home Vision Entertainment
Production Co: Merchant Ivory Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1987, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 19, 2017
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $45.9K
Runtime: 2h 20m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)