This is a romantic triangle drama of a different kind. It involves two men and one woman, and the two men aren't fighting over the same woman. The man and woman are fighting over a certain young man (Murray Head). well, they're actually not fighting. They're both decent people involved with the same younger man who basically is playing a game with them, not one of financial gain, but of emotional heartbreak and it isn't pleasant for the man in the middle.
The other man and the woman are played by Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson, and they give terrific, subtle performances as people basically leading their own lives. He's a doctor whose family and friends keep pressuring him into get married and she's a recent divorcee with several children to raise, finding a second win in her affair with the younger man.
Head is not a very likable character, and once you see past his initial charms, he's like any other opportunist, perhaps only smoother and in a sense more ruthless. in their few things together, Finch and Jackson obviously have a great deal of respect for each other, somehow knowing that they're both victims of the same person and dealing with the fact that either one of them or both of them will end up heartbroken. This gives their characters great likability, and even if there isn't really a strong plot, it's easy to hope that both of them find some sort of happiness outside of the man they are competing for.
Finch's character has a great sequence where he goes to a bar mitzvah and all of his friends and family members present try to set him up with various single women. One of the older women even goes as far as to accuse him of being selfish in not getting married, simply claiming she doesn't want to see him lonely. This isn't necessarily a film about homosexuality, but about how the heart can only stand so much and how good people find themselves in situations up against each other that are beyond their control.
Coming off her first Oscar win, Jackson is terrific, very subtle even in her most emotional scenes. Finch completely under plays his part and wins a ton of sympathy. Head is simply in the middle, not really giving a memorable performance, but at least the dislike for his handsome but sleazy two faced young sociopath is genuine. Veteran actress Bessie Love (of "Broadway Melody" fame) is funny as the face making receptionist who constantly gets irritated with Finch's orders. game Peggy Ashcroft, who would later win an Oscar for "A Passage to India", has an affecting scene as Jackson's mother. the sensitive script as well as the direction by John schlessinger helps make this film work, and the beautiful score will keep you entranced.
The other man and the woman are played by Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson, and they give terrific, subtle performances as people basically leading their own lives. He's a doctor whose family and friends keep pressuring him into get married and she's a recent divorcee with several children to raise, finding a second win in her affair with the younger man.
Head is not a very likable character, and once you see past his initial charms, he's like any other opportunist, perhaps only smoother and in a sense more ruthless. in their few things together, Finch and Jackson obviously have a great deal of respect for each other, somehow knowing that they're both victims of the same person and dealing with the fact that either one of them or both of them will end up heartbroken. This gives their characters great likability, and even if there isn't really a strong plot, it's easy to hope that both of them find some sort of happiness outside of the man they are competing for.
Finch's character has a great sequence where he goes to a bar mitzvah and all of his friends and family members present try to set him up with various single women. One of the older women even goes as far as to accuse him of being selfish in not getting married, simply claiming she doesn't want to see him lonely. This isn't necessarily a film about homosexuality, but about how the heart can only stand so much and how good people find themselves in situations up against each other that are beyond their control.
Coming off her first Oscar win, Jackson is terrific, very subtle even in her most emotional scenes. Finch completely under plays his part and wins a ton of sympathy. Head is simply in the middle, not really giving a memorable performance, but at least the dislike for his handsome but sleazy two faced young sociopath is genuine. Veteran actress Bessie Love (of "Broadway Melody" fame) is funny as the face making receptionist who constantly gets irritated with Finch's orders. game Peggy Ashcroft, who would later win an Oscar for "A Passage to India", has an affecting scene as Jackson's mother. the sensitive script as well as the direction by John schlessinger helps make this film work, and the beautiful score will keep you entranced.