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Product Description
This television adaptation of Paul Scott's sequel to 'The Jewel in the Crown' reunites Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson for the first time since their pairing in the classic 'Brief Encounter'. Colonel Tusker (Howard) and his wife Lucy (Johnson) decide to stay on in India after it is granted its independence. Their retirement in the small hill station town of Pankot proves to be an uncertain one, however, as many of their friends have now returned to England, and the Colonel's health is beginning to fail.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 67 people found the following review helpful
By Henry Turner
A number of the reviewers here appear to have missed the point - or, at least, based their negative reviews upon preconceptions of what they wanted 'Staying On' to be. Written after the Raj Quartet, the novel is not a sequel, and indeed, tonally has a very different feel. The TV film was, however, made and broadcast before 'The Jewel in the Crown', as a kind of dry-run, testing the waters for what was going to be one of the UK's most ambitious TV series. As an adaptation, the film is remarkably faithful in both tone and plot. Yes, I would have preferred it if the performances of a couple of the Indian actors had been turned down a notch, however the tonal shifts between the different worlds works very well. But the heart of the book and film lies in the relationship between the Smalleys - Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Rarely have I seen a portrait of love (refracted through pain and bitterness developed over decades) portrayed as well. It has made me cry both times that I have watched it. And for anyone who knows and loves 'Brief Encounter' the pathos of seeing that film's leads reunited 35 years on - and imagining how their relationship might have developed - the pathos is almost unbearable. Shot on location in Shimla, the film of course looks great. The image quality is not what you'd expect of a feature film, however, as like much of TV of the time, it was shot on 16mm film.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
I had read 'Staying On' by Paul Scott, which was the last book he wrote before he died. Paul Scott twice won the Booker Prize and is best known for 'The Raj Quartets.'
The film explores the problems of an elderly couple 'staying on' after the days of the Raj, when English customs are taken over by elite Indians.
The film is wonderful, poignant and the scenery is stunning. The storyline touched my heart.
The choice of 'Brief Encounter's' Celia Johnston and Trevor Howard as Tusker were inspired.
I know I will watch this film again and even though a film can never express the internal monologue in a book it is still one of the best and closest adaptions of a story I have seen. The fact that it was 'made for television' illustrates how mediocre current programmes are by comparison.
Please do watch it, I really appreciate it and I am sure others will too.
The film explores the problems of an elderly couple 'staying on' after the days of the Raj, when English customs are taken over by elite Indians.
The film is wonderful, poignant and the scenery is stunning. The storyline touched my heart.
The choice of 'Brief Encounter's' Celia Johnston and Trevor Howard as Tusker were inspired.
I know I will watch this film again and even though a film can never express the internal monologue in a book it is still one of the best and closest adaptions of a story I have seen. The fact that it was 'made for television' illustrates how mediocre current programmes are by comparison.
Please do watch it, I really appreciate it and I am sure others will too.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By MichaelS
Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a great shame that so many reviewers did not find this a production for them. Perhaps it's a matter of taste. Perhaps some expected a production closer to the magnificance of Jewel in the Crown. For us it was excellent and something to keep and watch probably several times again over the years. It's very sad, but not morbid, and the performance throughout of Celia Johnson in particular is something that stays with us long after seeing it. It's not five star in every respect - occasionally, reflecting its age, the production slips from film mode into stage mode, and of course 16mm film is adequate rather than brilliant. But such flaws detract very little indeed from a deep and moving story, excellently told.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
I had seen this years ago on television. Although now it does seem old the story is good, setting superb and to see Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson acting together again after so many years was great. The story is about a couple who stayed on in India after the departure of the Raj. She would have liked to return to India but stayed on because it was what her husband wanted. It's slow but has lots of charm.
By M E Clarkson
Amazon Verified Purchase
I read the book which I loved and from which I went on to read the excellent Jewel in the crown series. The film of Staying On is charming in a low key fashion.
By oldsod
Amazon Verified Purchase
May not be considered pc these days but what a good story told by a fantastic cast.If your ever tempted to move abroad it would be worth reading the book before making up your mind.
By mufuliraman
Amazon Verified Purchase
A sad story and a happy story all wrapped into one. The detail is true and the filming sublime for one who has spent time in India. Oh, and the acting is superb.
13 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Green Knight
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Please remember that this little television film (made in the days when television films were shot on rather grainy 16mm, and look like it) was made in 1980.
It's worth pointing out the date, because many viewers are under the impression that it was a somewhat unsatisfactory sequel to 'The Jewel in the Crown'. It wasn't.
'The Jewel in the Crown' was made after 'Staying On', and at once (rightly) joined the ranks of 'Brideshead Revisited', 'I Claudius', 'War & Peace' and 'The Forsyte Saga'(1967) in the Unforgettable Telly Hall of Fame.
'Staying On' is - like 'The Jewel in the Crown' - based on a novel by Paul Scott, and by its very nature I suspect it is better to read than it is to view. It certainly has none of the haunting magic of the epic series that followed.
As television drama, it's a fairly unimaginative little piece about the agonies of remaining in India long after your nation's presence has ceased to have any effect, and long after the natives have begun openly to despise your very existence. It's also about the agonies of getting old.
The Smalleys, who feature briefly in 'The Jewel in the Crown' are an aged couple, beautifully played here by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. Predictably, they drink a lot of gin and a lot of tea, and they bicker with each other - but they are in their own very English way devoted. Now, in the 1970s, time has moved on, leaving them behind, and they are at loggerheads with their nouveau riche Indian landlady - who has decided that she wants them out of their bungalow, and will stop at nothing to achieve their removal.... Read more ›
It's worth pointing out the date, because many viewers are under the impression that it was a somewhat unsatisfactory sequel to 'The Jewel in the Crown'. It wasn't.
'The Jewel in the Crown' was made after 'Staying On', and at once (rightly) joined the ranks of 'Brideshead Revisited', 'I Claudius', 'War & Peace' and 'The Forsyte Saga'(1967) in the Unforgettable Telly Hall of Fame.
'Staying On' is - like 'The Jewel in the Crown' - based on a novel by Paul Scott, and by its very nature I suspect it is better to read than it is to view. It certainly has none of the haunting magic of the epic series that followed.
As television drama, it's a fairly unimaginative little piece about the agonies of remaining in India long after your nation's presence has ceased to have any effect, and long after the natives have begun openly to despise your very existence. It's also about the agonies of getting old.
The Smalleys, who feature briefly in 'The Jewel in the Crown' are an aged couple, beautifully played here by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. Predictably, they drink a lot of gin and a lot of tea, and they bicker with each other - but they are in their own very English way devoted. Now, in the 1970s, time has moved on, leaving them behind, and they are at loggerheads with their nouveau riche Indian landlady - who has decided that she wants them out of their bungalow, and will stop at nothing to achieve their removal.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
staying on
whilst it is a story of an old couple staying on in India after Independence, it is slow and I kept waiting for something to happen, but it didn't, could have done with a bit of an... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Holden Fan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Staying On
I bought Before the Rains at the same time, quality of the movie far superior to Staying On which I could not watch. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Maureen Banerjee
2.0 out of 5 stars
miserable
the acting was exceptionally good but the main story was a bit miserable and the ending was sad. Would have liked to see Lucy pull herself together and make a life for herself.
Published 6 months ago by robert king
1.0 out of 5 stars
Staying on washout.
An attempt to cash in on the success of Jewel in The CRown but in no way connected to it and very poor in comparison. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2011 by brian r
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I was so looking forward to this after the wonderful experience of the Jewel in The Crown series. I'm afraid that this does not live up to expectations. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2009 by GeeJayBee
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