The Passionate Friends

1949

1h 35m

Romance

List

73%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this drama, based on the H.G. Wells novel, Mary (Ann Todd) longs for Steven (Trevor Howard), a lover she turned down years ago. Later, Mary is married to Howard (Claude Rains), but meets up with Steven while on vacation in the Swiss Alps. A seemingly platonic encounter fueled by pent-up passion leads to an affair between Mary and Steven, and she must choose between the two men -- the husband who loves her and the now-married man she rejected years earlier.

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Steve D

You have sen it all before.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

laurent b

During almost the entire movie, I thought it was very well-directed, well-played, everything you can expect from this movie director. But everything changed after the movie had ended, something overwhelmed me, something very deep and moving. To me this is one of the director's greatest movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

70-year movie and still so relevant. characters with motifs, not acting as puppets for directional point. this dynamic is not taking a sides, making it still fresh and relatable love story

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I don't like this movie as much as Brief Encounter, but it is good enough to surprise you that a director of this sensibility to portray the subtle tremors of the heart made The Bridge of the River Kwai and Passage of India.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

i love how it tries to tell us :)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A frank look at how well a pragmatic marriage might work in spite of the occasional stirrings of passion and sentiment. It should be noted that HG Wells (on whose story this is based) often wrote of consequences which took a few decades to be fully appreciated. Bring a clean hankie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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David Lean

Director

Ann Todd

Mary Justin

Trevor Howard

Professor Steven Stratton

Claude Rains

Howard Justin

Betty Ann Davies

Miss Joan Layton

Isabel Dean

Pat Stratton

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Know Your Critic: Angelica Jade Bastién, Critic at Vulture/New York Magazine

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Liz Hoggard

London Evening Standard

The Passionate Friends looks gorgeous and has a feverishly modern intensity.

Jan 12, 2018

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Polished acting, masterly direction and an excellent script put The Passionate Friends in the top rank of class British productions.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A minor gem from the David Lean canon.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

It is not a restful film and does not, for example, possess the integrity such as was shown by David Lean in his treatment of Brief Encounter.

Feb 8, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The glossy direction of the talented Lean made it watchable but only mildly pleasing as soapy entertainment.

Rated: C+

Aug 27, 2008

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

A film directed by the great David Lean is always a treat, and this one is no exception.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jun 9, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this drama, based on the H.G. Wells novel, Mary (Ann Todd) longs for Steven (Trevor Howard), a lover she turned down years ago. Later, Mary is married to Howard (Claude Rains), but meets up with Steven while on vacation in the Swiss Alps. A seemingly platonic encounter fueled by pent-up passion leads to an affair between Mary and Steven, and she must choose between the two men -- the husband who loves her and the now-married man she rejected years earlier.

Director: David Lean
Screenwriter: Eric Ambler, David Lean, Stanley Haynes
Production Co: Cineguild
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 35m

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