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Amazon.co.uk Review
The second of the Merchant/Ivory films (A Room with a View, Howard's End), Maurice deals with a theme few period pieces dare mention--a young man's struggle with his homosexuality. It's not just a gay coming-of-age story, however. The hero wrestles with British class society as much as his personal and sexual identity.
The film opens on a stormy, windswept beach, as an older man awkwardly instructs young, fatherless Maurice Hall (James Wilby) in the "sacred mysteries" of sex. The same turbulent, wordless struggle with passion lasts throughout this slowly evolving, beautifully filmed story. Novelist E M Forster's brainy, British melodrama hinges on choice and compulsion, as the pensive hero falls for two completely different men. First comes frail, suppressed Clive (Hugh Grant), who wants nothing more than classical Platonic harmony ... and a straight lifestyle. (Grant's performance is so convincing, one wonders how he ever became a heterosexual sex symbol.) After Clive's wedding, Maurice turns to hypnosis to cure his unspeakable longings. Unfortunately, his "cure" is interrupted by Clive's lustful, brooding, barely literate gamekeeper Scudder (Rupert Graves), a worker more at home gutting rabbits than discussing the classics. Maurice's love for a "social inferior" forces him to confront his illicit desire and his ingrained class snobbery. --Grant Balfour
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Set against the stifling conformity of pre-World War I English society, E.M. Forster's Maurice is a story of coming to terms with one's sexuality and identity in the face of disapproval and misunderstanding. Maurice Hall and Clive Durham find themselves falling in love at Cambridge. In a time when homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment, the two must keep their feelings for one another a complete secret. After a friend is arrested and disgraced for 'the unspeakable vice of the Greeks', Clive abandons his forbidden love and marries a young woman. Maurice however, struggles with questions of his identity and self-confidence, seeking the help of a hypnotist to rid himself of his undeniable urges. But while staying with Clive and his shallow wife, Anne, Maurice is seduced by the affectionate and yearning servant Alec Scudder, an event that brings about profound changes in Maurice's life and outlook. Sparkling direction by James Ivory, distinguished performances from the ensemble cast, and a charged score by Richard Robbins all combine to create a film of immense power, one that is romantic, moving, and a story of love and self-discovery for all audiences. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Oscar Academy Awards, Venice Film Festival, ...Maurice
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Maurice, which is based on E.M. Forster's heartbreaking and beautiful semi-autobiographical novel of the same name is a wonderful Merchant Ivory productions.
James Wilby stars as Maurice, a young man at Cambridge who begins to develop feelings for his friend and fellow student Clive (Hugh Grant). The feeling turns out to be mutual and the friends soon fall in love with one another, but must keep their relationship secret because of the strict Edwardian society which they inhabit.
Clive maintains that the pair should keep their relationship purely "platonic" which Maurice accepts, despite feeling a need to seal their love physically. When Clive goes on a trip to Greece, he seems to snub Maurice and it soon becomes clear that he has different feelings about their affair.
Maurice is understandably heartbroken, but his ordeal is not over there. He soon discovers that Clive is engaged to be married to a woman named Anne. He is devestated. The question is, will he recover from the break-up and find love elsewhere or is he doomed to forever be without love in a society that does not accept people of his kind?
The film, which was directed by James Ivory, is a heartbreaking account of one man's struggle to accept his sexuality in a world that tells him that everything about his true inclination is wrong. It also highlights the plight of homosexuals everywhere who were forced to hide their identities because of laws against homosexuality in Britain and around the world.
The film is a joy to look at - the cinematography, the art direction and the costume design being a particular highlight - and is very beautiful, capturing the Edwardian period perfectly. James Wilby is excellent as Maurice and Hugh Grant performs well acting against type. Rupert Graves is wonderful in his supporting role as Alec Scudder, who may or may not prove to be Maurice's eventual saviour.
The actors inhabit their characters effortlessly and it is easy to feel sympathy for all of them in different ways - Maurice, Clive, Alec and even Anne, for that matter - which creates an emotional journey filled with both highs and lows.
An often overlooked and forgotten film, Maurice is brilliant and despite the long running time, should appeal to almost anyone with an open mind, a love of E.M. Forster or even of Merchant Ivory productions in general. This is a must see!
James Wilby stars as Maurice, a young man at Cambridge who begins to develop feelings for his friend and fellow student Clive (Hugh Grant). The feeling turns out to be mutual and the friends soon fall in love with one another, but must keep their relationship secret because of the strict Edwardian society which they inhabit.
Clive maintains that the pair should keep their relationship purely "platonic" which Maurice accepts, despite feeling a need to seal their love physically. When Clive goes on a trip to Greece, he seems to snub Maurice and it soon becomes clear that he has different feelings about their affair.
Maurice is understandably heartbroken, but his ordeal is not over there. He soon discovers that Clive is engaged to be married to a woman named Anne. He is devestated. The question is, will he recover from the break-up and find love elsewhere or is he doomed to forever be without love in a society that does not accept people of his kind?
The film, which was directed by James Ivory, is a heartbreaking account of one man's struggle to accept his sexuality in a world that tells him that everything about his true inclination is wrong. It also highlights the plight of homosexuals everywhere who were forced to hide their identities because of laws against homosexuality in Britain and around the world.
The film is a joy to look at - the cinematography, the art direction and the costume design being a particular highlight - and is very beautiful, capturing the Edwardian period perfectly. James Wilby is excellent as Maurice and Hugh Grant performs well acting against type. Rupert Graves is wonderful in his supporting role as Alec Scudder, who may or may not prove to be Maurice's eventual saviour.
The actors inhabit their characters effortlessly and it is easy to feel sympathy for all of them in different ways - Maurice, Clive, Alec and even Anne, for that matter - which creates an emotional journey filled with both highs and lows.
An often overlooked and forgotten film, Maurice is brilliant and despite the long running time, should appeal to almost anyone with an open mind, a love of E.M. Forster or even of Merchant Ivory productions in general. This is a must see!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Maurice" is a great movie dealing with homosexuality and class distinction in the early 20th century. It has a lot of beautiful scenes, although they could've made it a bit shorter.
I've wanted to buy this film on DVD for ages but I must say I'm really disappointed with this certain edition (Merchant Ivory Collection). It has a lot of nice extra features, but it lacks subtitles entirely. Not even the main feature has subtitles to offer. I can't understand why one chooses to release a classic like this without it. For us who are deaf or hard-of-hearing or other neurological difficulties, it's important to know before buying. Now I have to supplement my collection with the other version too: Maurice [DVD] [1987]
I've wanted to buy this film on DVD for ages but I must say I'm really disappointed with this certain edition (Merchant Ivory Collection). It has a lot of nice extra features, but it lacks subtitles entirely. Not even the main feature has subtitles to offer. I can't understand why one chooses to release a classic like this without it. For us who are deaf or hard-of-hearing or other neurological difficulties, it's important to know before buying. Now I have to supplement my collection with the other version too: Maurice [DVD] [1987]
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Sadly, there are many occasions on which well-meaning film-makers have quite frankly butchered good books, where their metamorphosis onto the big screen has not gone smoothly. I must say, however, that James Ivorys' adaptation of E.M Forsters' classic novel, Maurice, is a welcome exception.
Ivory captures the essence of this book superbly, in terms of character, dialogue and fundamentals such as plot, which is largely in keeping with the original story-line. Where it differs, it does so effectively and plausibly, and this does not detract from the sense of its over-all loyalty to the novel.
Splendid acting is in evidence throughout from James Wilby and Hugh Grant, as well as Rupert
Graves and a good supporting cast. Wilby portrays the conflicted eponymous hero impressively, moving smoothly through a range of emotions, from moments of exuberance, uncertainty and tourtured insecurity.
Although the crucial theme of Maurice is homosexuality in an age which criminalized it, other issues such as social class, individuality/conformity and love mean that it is compelling on other levels too, making it an all-round joy of pre-World War One drama, in which innocence and idealism are still largely possible.
Ivory captures the essence of this book superbly, in terms of character, dialogue and fundamentals such as plot, which is largely in keeping with the original story-line. Where it differs, it does so effectively and plausibly, and this does not detract from the sense of its over-all loyalty to the novel.
Splendid acting is in evidence throughout from James Wilby and Hugh Grant, as well as Rupert
Graves and a good supporting cast. Wilby portrays the conflicted eponymous hero impressively, moving smoothly through a range of emotions, from moments of exuberance, uncertainty and tourtured insecurity.
Although the crucial theme of Maurice is homosexuality in an age which criminalized it, other issues such as social class, individuality/conformity and love mean that it is compelling on other levels too, making it an all-round joy of pre-World War One drama, in which innocence and idealism are still largely possible.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Book `Maurice` to film
The book to film omits the novels philosophical dialogue and also many subplots. 1) The film should have stuck more to the book, not deleted scenes essential to it nor added ones... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chandos
Another;great ,& a must Watch Film; By Merchant Ivory.Hugh,Grant &...
I Bought This DVD;Maurice;;by The Exellent Merchant Ivory.& Tells the Story ;Pre War ;One] of Two Cambridge Graduates;;& There Live & Loves a Lavish Prodouction:& Brilliant But Sad... Read more
Published 1 month ago by JOHN .From Clitheroe
Incredible, so true to the novel.
I seldom find a film adaptation of a novel so true to the original storyline. When reading this novel I connected with the characters incredibly and felt I connected with the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Divine.M
Well worth a watch
Not knowing quite what to expect of this film, I found it pretty profoundly moving. It's sensitively and splendidly acted, and acts as an eye-opening reminder of the tragedy of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by anngriffx
a film to love and be comforted by
Every time I watch Maurice I fall in love with it afresh, it is so full of feeling, and the ending goes against everything one might expect. Read more
Published 3 months ago by schumann_bg
One of the best...
I think everyones reviews sum up very nicely how good this film is. I can only agree but wanted to add my review as this is one of my favourite films. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JDP
a blast from the past
I saw this film many years ago on TV, in fact I think it was 1 of the first gay films I ever saw, it's a very good film, and reminds me just how far gay rights have come over the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Steve
A Touching Film
Maurice is a 1987 film based on the novel by E. M. Forster. A tale of homosexual love in early 20th century England. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Grahame
MAURICE
FORGOT WHAT A GREAT FILM THIS WAS JUST A PITY THEY DID NOT PUT IN EXTRAS LIKE DELETED SCENES OR CAST DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS .
Published 16 months ago by Mr. M. L. P. Horabin
Maurice
Very intereting portrait of a society that cannot keep its faults inside and is liable to the mass explosion of crazyness we know. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Boso Alfredo
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