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Product Description
Starring Noel Coward and Celia Johnson, this classic film is finally released on DVD for your collection. This film was released in 1950 during the years of post war austerity when the cinema going public were clamouring for glamour. The main setting for the film is a Park Lane flat/office. White telephones, quilted headboards, furs, fresh flowers and cocktails are all in evidence. Adapted by Noel Coward from his own play and written with superb British precision The Astonished Heart is a tale of an adulterous love triangle. Coward creates an intriguing yet compassionate and sympathetic tale of marriage and infidelity fuelled by sexual obsession and human weakness. Dr Christian Faber (Noel Coward) has been happily married to his wife Barbara (Celia Johnson) for 12 years. Into their lives comes Leonora (Margaret Leighton) who when forced together during a period of Barbara s absence embarks on an affair with Christian. Barbara discovers the affair and as each person tries to avoid causing pain to the other two, all fail.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Starring Noel Coward and Celia Johnson, this classic film is finally released on DVD for your collection. This film was released in 1950 during the years of post war austerity when the cinema going public were clamouring for glamour. The main setting for the film is a Park Lane flat/office. White telephones, quilted headboards, furs, fresh flowers and cocktails are all in evidence. Adapted by Noel Coward from his own play and written with superb British precision The Astonished Heart is a tale of an adulterous love triangle. Coward creates an intriguing yet compassionate and sympathetic tale of marriage and infidelity fuelled by sexual obsession and human weakness. Dr Christian Faber (Noel Coward) has been happily married to his wife Barbara (Celia Johnson) for 12 years. Into their lives comes Leonora (Margaret Leighton) who when forced together during a period of Barbara s absence embarks on an affair with Christian. Barbara discovers the affair and as each person tries to avoid causing pain to the other two, all fail. ...The Astonished Heart
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This love triangle between psychiatrist Christian Faber (Noel Coward) and his wife of twelve years Barbara (Celia Johnson) and the other women Leonora Vail (Margaret Leighton) is very much a 1950 film and dates in the same way endearing way as Brief Encounter and Passionate Friends.
Written by Noel Coward who plays the male lead, and also wrote a pretty good film score that points up the action extremely well. It also includes Coward's lifetime partner Graham Payn in the role of his assistant Tim Verney.
The scenes between Noel Coward and Celia Johnson are very successful but otherwise this well acted and written film just does not come to life as it should, mainly because Coward is too old for the young Margaret Leighton and unable to generate the passion and angst needed, one wonders what an actor like Claude Rains would have made of the role.
This an enjoyable backward glance at 1950 film making, but not a classic.
Written by Noel Coward who plays the male lead, and also wrote a pretty good film score that points up the action extremely well. It also includes Coward's lifetime partner Graham Payn in the role of his assistant Tim Verney.
The scenes between Noel Coward and Celia Johnson are very successful but otherwise this well acted and written film just does not come to life as it should, mainly because Coward is too old for the young Margaret Leighton and unable to generate the passion and angst needed, one wonders what an actor like Claude Rains would have made of the role.
This an enjoyable backward glance at 1950 film making, but not a classic.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a perfect period piece. Anyone just discovering Terence Rattigan through his centenary celebrations should also try this. Celia Johnson (Brief Encounter) stars with Noel Coward and Margaret Leighton. And of course the frocks are lovely, too.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Since this is, like Brief Encounter, an expansion of a playlet from Tonight at 8.30 it is still a swift 85 minutes. The cast is the Coward "family" of Joyce Carey,Celia Johnson, Graham Payn, etc all of whom are used to the manner and style of Cowards' writing. He himself is a little ill at ease playing the part of the man whose love life and over intellectualisation of everything ultimately destroys him.YET the basic premise of the plot holds true and the oft quoted "physician heal theyself" is applicable to the psychiatrist who loses control through emotions and is unable to resolve the situation.It is a chance to see Coward challenging himself in another acting role, even if the result is not 100% convincing. It should however be noted for fashion historians that Margaret Leightons' clothes by Molyneux and Celia Johnsons' by Digby Moreton are terrific.
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