The Romantic Englishwoman

R

1975

1 hr. 57 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

80%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

38%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Lewis (Michael Caine), an English novelist with writer's block, suspects his wife, Elizabeth (Glenda Jackson), is having an affair when she goes alone on a vacation to Europe. His suspicions are confirmed when she begins a romantic entanglement with Thomas (Helmut Berger), a German drug dealer who claims to be a poet. The situation grows more complicated as Thomas reconnects with Elizabeth in England, and seeks writing advice from Lewis regarding a screenplay he is working on.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent The Romantic Englishwoman on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

Audience Member

"Well, women are an occupied country." This was a strange one. Glenda Jackson plays, as she always does well, a restless desirer - emotionally and sexually unfulfilled in the role of mother and wife - who wants to reclaim some sense of freedom but can't bring herself to abandon her son. There's a bunch of really interesting commentary on how men and their society enslave women with just enough comfort that women feel guilty wanting more. Really enjoyed how sort of throwaway character Isabel drops a whole bunch of badass knowledge on Michael Caine as he screams in her face like a busted 5 year old throwing a tantrum. Caine, a writer who is so overwhelmed with jealous suspicions about his largely innocent wife that he not only decides to write a screenplay about her cheating on him, but he also invites a total stranger into their home and shoves them together as much as he can in an attempt to catch them cheating. Then Helmut Berger acts as basically a blank catalyst, like a Germanic hustler Albert Camus just rolling with whatever life throws at him. The top problem with the movie is that they get too lost in telling the story from Caine and Berger's point of view, when Glenda Jackson is really the only truly interesting character in the entire film. I'd be curious to see if the book is a little more fleshed out? Either way, it's definitely an interesting watch but Stoppard and Losey keep the focus too boys-club to truly get to anything emotional here. And finally - the poster for this just has like absolutely no basis in this film and it's kind of funny. I mean, she gets naked but never like THAT. Also why in god's name would you feature Michael Caine's dumb face over Alan Delon rip-off hottie Helmut Berger???????? Buncha men making bad decisions all around with this film, man.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Opulent, gorgeous, witty, snarky, more bitter than sweet (which is fine by me) but somehow moving and tender after all. Not easy to care about a bored rich white woman, who has a nanny to take care of her child and a beautiful house and can travel anywhere...but it's Glenda Jackson! And all I have to do is observe her with keen interest and enjoy her lines; it is not necessary for me to feel for her plight. If only that were my crisis! And Michael Caine's character's jealousy is hilarious, as is his cantankerous nature and frequent state of drunkenness, which lead to very amusing horrid rudeness.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

walter m

In "The Romantic Englishwoman," Elizabeth(Glenda Jackson) is vacationing in Baden-Baden. While there, she has an innocent encounter with Thomas(Helmut Berger) who is there on business. Which her husband Lewis(Michael Caine), a novelist, imagines to be not-so-innocent, especially after she flies back against his explicit instructions. His worries are intensified when Thomas seeking a place to hide out after a business deal goes south travels to their house under cover of being a poet who is a fan of Lewis' novels. "The Romantic Englishwoman" is a prime example of when very dull things happen to great actors. So much so, that they can do little with the material at hand. Admittedly, telling Thomas' story with as little as dialogue as possible is a neat touch.(And you have to admit it. Thomas does have style.) But even with such potential, the movie, not able to decide between romance, comedy, psychological drama, meta weirdness or thriller, just decides to sit there for long stretches. Maybe it would have helped if the story had started off with Lewis' first conversation with Herman(Rene Kolldehoff) as a way of introducing everybody. Maybe not.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an odd film. Glenda Jackson is superb as one would expect. And, the camera work and set design are of note. Perhaps it is Tom Stoppard's contribution as writer that keeps Joseph Losey a bit more restrained than usual. Interestingly, it is quite clear that this film is from the mid-1970's. The story is most certainly a reflection of the sexual revolution of the era. And yet, there is a strange almost old-fashioned feeling that is given. I found nothing "romantic" about this film. The title appears to be one of sarcasm taken from a rather blunt and rude statement made by Berger's character. Though this film may not truly fit in as a cinematic classic there is most certainly a memorable play of events and work by the artists involved.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Talky and not very interesting film about a cuckolded English writer.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Frances H

What point was there to this film? The cast was full of good actors, but even they didn't seem interested in their characters or the storyline. If they aren't, why should we be? Some of the dialogue was occasionally god or had some wit, but not enough to carry the movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/19/12

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Joseph Losey

Director

Glenda Jackson

Elizabeth

Michael Caine

Lewis

Helmut Berger

Thomas

Marcus Richardson

David

Kate Nelligan

Isabel

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

83%

70%

Something for Everyone

72%

69%

Youth

TRAILER

for Youth

73%

93%

Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game

54%

55%

Demolition

TRAILER

for Demolition

85%

80%

The Belly of an Architect

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Another flaccid essay on infidelity.

Oct 24, 2023

Full Review

Gary Jane Hoisington

Gay Community News (Boston)

This is the most impressive film of the year so far.

Jul 13, 2022

Full Review

Ruth Reckless

Spare Rib

The audience is left to either examine for themselves the aspects of marriage, romantic love and role reversal which the film gingerly picked up, or to dismiss the whole thing as "pulp novel fantasy," depending on their preoccupations.

Sep 22, 2021

Full Review

Jacoba Atlas

Los Angeles Free Press

The casting, as with all [Joseph] Losey films, is perfect and fascinating.

Nov 18, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Disappointing but easy to watch sly comedy that skewers real-life love and pulp fiction romance as both products of fiction.

Rated: B-

Feb 28, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Lewis (Michael Caine), an English novelist with writer's block, suspects his wife, Elizabeth (Glenda Jackson), is having an affair when she goes alone on a vacation to Europe. His suspicions are confirmed when she begins a romantic entanglement with Thomas (Helmut Berger), a German drug dealer who claims to be a poet. The situation grows more complicated as Thomas reconnects with Elizabeth in England, and seeks writing advice from Lewis regarding a screenplay he is working on.

Director: Joseph Losey
Production Co: Dial Films, Les Productions Meric-Matalon
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 8, 2017

Most Popular at Home Now