The easiest way to describe this is to say that if you liked the Alfred Hitchcock TV series, you'll like this. In both tone, content, presentation, and humor it is practically a dead ringer for that venerable program, right down to the witty monologues by author Somerset Maugham preceding each vignette. Even the suspense generated in the third story seems to be a melody taken straight from the Hitchcock repertoire. Probably the only really noticeable difference is the gentler treatment of the characters than is common with Hitch's work. Very entertaining example of that genre -- and several years before that series hit the air.
14 Reviews
Wonderful curiosity
wisewebwoman6 January 2004
This movie was constructed from three short stories by Somerset Maugham and he also appears to introduce each of them. The third story "Gigolo and Gigolette" is by far the best as you are never quite sure what direction it is going in. Terrific tension. The middle story also has a neat twist at the end but it takes far too long to get there and its main protagonist (played by Kay Walsh) starts to irritate. The first story features a bunch of quite unlikable, selfish characters and I found it did not engage me at all. 4 out of 10 for the first, 6 out of 10 for the second and 8 out of 10 for the third for an average of 6 out of 10 for the whole effort.
A worthwhile encore
TheLittleSongbird7 January 2019
Have always appreciated W Somerset Maugham's writing, it has been criticised for not holding up well but really like the sharpness of the prose, the insight, the irony and charm. He is not adapted enough on film, but when he is it makes for interesting results. Something that is evident in the portmanteau trilogy 'The Aesop's Fables Maugham Concerto Trilogy', consisting of 'Quartet' (1948), 'Trio' (1950) and 'Encore' (1951).
Like 'Quartet' the best marginally, due to "The Colonel's Lady" being my favourite of all the segments of the entire trilogy, while equally liking 'Trio'. Of the three, my least favourite is 'Encore', which is still worthwhile and not because it's bad, just that the other two's segments were more consistent and higher individually in quality. It's uneven but as was said with 'Quartet' and 'Trio' that was not unexpected, considering the usual standard of anthologies (am not meaning this in a derogatory manner). Like 'Trio', 'Encore' is made up of three segments, starting with "The Ant and the Grasshopper" and finishing with "Gigolo and Gigolette" with "Winter Cruise" sandwiched in between.
Unlike 'Quartet' and 'Trio', there are moments of pedestrian direction, apparent in some of "The Ant and the Grasshopper" and on occasions, but only fleetingly in, "The Gigolo and the Gigolette". Found myself not the biggest fan of "The Ant and the Grasshopper", which was admittedly amusing and had great comic timing from especially Nigel Patrick in one of the film's standout performances.
The pacing did need more kick though, while the characters are rather too cynical, while not being as interesting as the rich characterisation in particularly the "Sanitorium" segment in 'Trio', and the ending is on the absurd side.
On the other hand, "Winter Cruise" is very entertaining, lifted by the delightful (if not working for everyone) turn of Kay Walsh having a ball, and with a touch of pathos. The longest segment "The Gigolo and the Gigolette" is not loved by all, though it has been considered the best of the three (my favourite actually is "Winter Cruise", but mostly the pace is fine, it is the most unpredictable of the three with an ending that one does not expect and one is treated to a good deal of emotion and especially tension before getting there.
Have no issues with the performances really and Maugham's writing shines just as much as it did in 'Quartet' and 'Trio', the insight, irony and charm frequently present though the lightness was more apparent in those two films. He again introduces and bookends the film and each segment and he delivers it with the same qualities he brought to 'Quartet' and 'Trio'. Like the previous two films, 'Encore' is pleasing visually and appropriately scored.
In conclusion, worthwhile end to a very interesting and well done trilogy of portmanteaus. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Like 'Quartet' the best marginally, due to "The Colonel's Lady" being my favourite of all the segments of the entire trilogy, while equally liking 'Trio'. Of the three, my least favourite is 'Encore', which is still worthwhile and not because it's bad, just that the other two's segments were more consistent and higher individually in quality. It's uneven but as was said with 'Quartet' and 'Trio' that was not unexpected, considering the usual standard of anthologies (am not meaning this in a derogatory manner). Like 'Trio', 'Encore' is made up of three segments, starting with "The Ant and the Grasshopper" and finishing with "Gigolo and Gigolette" with "Winter Cruise" sandwiched in between.
Unlike 'Quartet' and 'Trio', there are moments of pedestrian direction, apparent in some of "The Ant and the Grasshopper" and on occasions, but only fleetingly in, "The Gigolo and the Gigolette". Found myself not the biggest fan of "The Ant and the Grasshopper", which was admittedly amusing and had great comic timing from especially Nigel Patrick in one of the film's standout performances.
The pacing did need more kick though, while the characters are rather too cynical, while not being as interesting as the rich characterisation in particularly the "Sanitorium" segment in 'Trio', and the ending is on the absurd side.
On the other hand, "Winter Cruise" is very entertaining, lifted by the delightful (if not working for everyone) turn of Kay Walsh having a ball, and with a touch of pathos. The longest segment "The Gigolo and the Gigolette" is not loved by all, though it has been considered the best of the three (my favourite actually is "Winter Cruise", but mostly the pace is fine, it is the most unpredictable of the three with an ending that one does not expect and one is treated to a good deal of emotion and especially tension before getting there.
Have no issues with the performances really and Maugham's writing shines just as much as it did in 'Quartet' and 'Trio', the insight, irony and charm frequently present though the lightness was more apparent in those two films. He again introduces and bookends the film and each segment and he delivers it with the same qualities he brought to 'Quartet' and 'Trio'. Like the previous two films, 'Encore' is pleasing visually and appropriately scored.
In conclusion, worthwhile end to a very interesting and well done trilogy of portmanteaus. 7/10 Bethany Cox
The best is sublime, and it's all very fine and fun stuff, classic
secondtake24 August 2011
Encore (1951)
A set of three half hour movies, each based on a short story by W. Somerset Maugham, who also comes on screen to introduce them to us (like Hitchcock did in his 1950s television work). You have to accept the idea that these are short films, without connection, and enjoy them one by one. They don't have time to develop like a full movie, but they make a smaller statement quickly. And each is directed, acted, filmed, etc. etc. by a separate crew and cast. Follow along:
The Ant and the Grasshopper
This has the potential for the most complex and rich of the three shorts, involving two brothers, one who works steadily and honorably at his job (the ant, I suppose) and the other who is a cad and a scoundrel of some innocent sort, but who gets ahead by the end through some leap of daring (the grasshopper, surely). It's a mischievous and clever story, a bit too clever by half, but really well acted. The plot reminds me of the O'Henry kind of storytelling where there is a small kernel of observation and cleverness, but in a lighthearted way (nothing too Chekov or Raymond Carver going on here). But well done, well done.
Winter Cruise
This was for me the best of the three. At first it's a silly tale about a woman who talks so much on a cruise she drives everyone batty, but then, when the ship stops at port and the cast gets reduced to just a half dozen people, we get a tight ensemble playing out of issues of loneliness, love, kindness, and the power of implication. By that I mean, what this segment doesn't say is what it's all about. The writer, Maugham, and the screenwriter, Arthur Macrae, both are in top form.
The tone is great--utterly chipper in its clever humor--and it's filmed in a smilier way, with some playful expressionist filming. And it's nicely contained, a film on a small ship on a voyage. And of course, the men who seem to prefer silence can get none of it on this little vessel, from which there's no escape.
"We'll just ignore her," says one man.
"Well, you can't ignore Niagara," says another.
You have to pay attention, because the quips and one-liners are fast and fluid. For example, when the poor young Frenchman, the steward, is commanded to have a romance with the woman, another officer whispers in his ear that he'll get "danger money" for the duty, a reference to high risk jobs in the war getting higher pay. And there are digs about the English and the French, and so on. Great stuff, increasingly complex, and a touching ambiguous (perfectly ambiguous) ending.
Gigolo and Gigolette
There are two themes to this one. The first echoes Maugham's comments at the start, that some people are drawn to do senselessly dangerous work because the money is there, even if they eventually get hurt or die because of it. This time it is a high dive act (eighty feet up, into a pool of water five feet deep). Which brings us to the second theme: love or money. The diver is a woman, and her boyfriend is deeply in love with her. But he loves money, too, and he begins to push her to dive twice a night even if she isn't quite up to it, because the money is there.
It's well done, if a bit simpler. What really works in this tale is the actual fear you have for the diver. Well filmed, tightly edited.
A set of three half hour movies, each based on a short story by W. Somerset Maugham, who also comes on screen to introduce them to us (like Hitchcock did in his 1950s television work). You have to accept the idea that these are short films, without connection, and enjoy them one by one. They don't have time to develop like a full movie, but they make a smaller statement quickly. And each is directed, acted, filmed, etc. etc. by a separate crew and cast. Follow along:
The Ant and the Grasshopper
This has the potential for the most complex and rich of the three shorts, involving two brothers, one who works steadily and honorably at his job (the ant, I suppose) and the other who is a cad and a scoundrel of some innocent sort, but who gets ahead by the end through some leap of daring (the grasshopper, surely). It's a mischievous and clever story, a bit too clever by half, but really well acted. The plot reminds me of the O'Henry kind of storytelling where there is a small kernel of observation and cleverness, but in a lighthearted way (nothing too Chekov or Raymond Carver going on here). But well done, well done.
Winter Cruise
This was for me the best of the three. At first it's a silly tale about a woman who talks so much on a cruise she drives everyone batty, but then, when the ship stops at port and the cast gets reduced to just a half dozen people, we get a tight ensemble playing out of issues of loneliness, love, kindness, and the power of implication. By that I mean, what this segment doesn't say is what it's all about. The writer, Maugham, and the screenwriter, Arthur Macrae, both are in top form.
The tone is great--utterly chipper in its clever humor--and it's filmed in a smilier way, with some playful expressionist filming. And it's nicely contained, a film on a small ship on a voyage. And of course, the men who seem to prefer silence can get none of it on this little vessel, from which there's no escape.
"We'll just ignore her," says one man.
"Well, you can't ignore Niagara," says another.
You have to pay attention, because the quips and one-liners are fast and fluid. For example, when the poor young Frenchman, the steward, is commanded to have a romance with the woman, another officer whispers in his ear that he'll get "danger money" for the duty, a reference to high risk jobs in the war getting higher pay. And there are digs about the English and the French, and so on. Great stuff, increasingly complex, and a touching ambiguous (perfectly ambiguous) ending.
Gigolo and Gigolette
There are two themes to this one. The first echoes Maugham's comments at the start, that some people are drawn to do senselessly dangerous work because the money is there, even if they eventually get hurt or die because of it. This time it is a high dive act (eighty feet up, into a pool of water five feet deep). Which brings us to the second theme: love or money. The diver is a woman, and her boyfriend is deeply in love with her. But he loves money, too, and he begins to push her to dive twice a night even if she isn't quite up to it, because the money is there.
It's well done, if a bit simpler. What really works in this tale is the actual fear you have for the diver. Well filmed, tightly edited.
Fitting Final Film for the Trilogy of Maugham Short Stories
barnesgene8 June 2007
The last of three films taking several Somerset Maugham short stories and getting them up on the screen (the other two were "Quartet" and "Trio"), this one again is a mixed bag, and there seems to be no agreement among commentators about which stories are superior. For me, I'll agree with most of the critics who say that the opener, "The Ant and the Grasshopper," is pretty slim pickins, especially as its ending is too absurd to be credible. But the next story, "Winter Cruise" is a remarkably beautiful effort. In some ways it shares a lot of the plot of "Mr. Know-All" in the second movie, "Trio." A passenger (this time female) makes everyone on board the ship uncomfortable and a little annoyed by her constant talking. And again, as in "Mr. Know-All," it's surprising how nicely the unlucky people who have to put up with her behave toward her -- very civilized, very polite. And finally, like "Mr. Know-All," there is a wonderful turn of events that puts the best light on everything and everyone. Only this time, the whole business is ratcheted up considerably. For me it was the gem of all three movies. The final story, "Gigolo and Gigolette," was less interesting to me, as the plot was so specific it was hard to generalize any moral from it. But it did allow the movie to go out with a bang. I also felt the actress playing the gigolette was sleepwalking through her part (and I've enjoyed her in other movies). With this movie the Maugham franchise was spent. The three movies, taken as a whole, were okay, but I wouldn't be upset if I had to leave this mortal coil without having seen them.
More Maugham
kenjha30 December 2011
As the title implies, this follows "Quartet" and "Trio," the first two collections of Maugham stories. This one has three stories. The first story, "The Ant and the Grasshopper," has Patrick as a ne'er-do-well who mooches off his responsible brother. The second, "Winter Cruise," is the amusing tale of a few men caught on a long cruise with a Chatty Kathy (Walsh) who drives them crazy with her non-stop yapping. The final episode, "Gigolo and Gigolette," stars Johns as a performer whose act consists of jumping 80 feet into a pool of burning water, but she starts to lose her nerves; it is the longest and, for the most part, the least interesting of the three, although the ending is compelling.
A bit of a mixed bag but well worth seeing.
planktonrules1 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The film is introduced by Somerset Maugham and is based on three of his stories. However, the screenplays were not written by him. They consist of the following:
"The Ant and the Grasshopper"--This tale is about being industrious. There are two brothers--one is a an upper-class guy who has done his family proud with his business sense. The other is an idle jerk--who has no desire to work--just sponge off his gullible brother. While you'd THINK it's a tale about how hard work pays off, it isn't! In many ways, it's reminiscent of Mark Twain's stories "The Story of the Good Little Boy" and "The Story of the Bad Little Boy"--stories that at first appear to endorse the commonly promoted values--but which ultimately show us that OFTEN badness and deceit pay off far better than decency and traditional values! It's all quite cynical but a great lesson about life. Well worth seeing.
"Winter Cruise"--On a cruise on a small freighter, the crew finds one of the passengers (Miss Reid) to be annoying. She talks incessantly and is a bore. And, try as they might, they can't seem to get rid of her. However, since they are British (and incredibly polite), they don't say anything and allow her to prattle on and on. Had she been on an American ship, perhaps they would have just rapped her in the mouth! Instead, they come up with a plan--if one of them would romance her, the rest could have a tolerable cruise. They nominate, or should I say, 'volunteer' a French crew member for the unenviable task--after all, he IS French and MUST be a great lover! Later, however, the crew begins to feel a bit guilty about this ruse. This is okay segment...but I really just wanted to see them rap her in the mouth!
"Gigolo and Gigolette"--A husband and wife team work doing a strange act at a French nightclub. She dives off an 80 foot tower into five feet of water! They are VERY popular but she is scared to death to continue--but her husband is uncaring and is trying to push her to do the act even though it's so very dangerous. And, when she tells him how terrified she is, he seems unmoved. Naturally, she wonders if he really loves her. Her solution turns out to be a very bad one--and it does seem to show her exactly what he thinks of her.
In "Gigolo and Gigolette", there is a scene where the couple is talking on the beach. It's VERY obvious that the beach was added later and they were clumsily added using a technique like the green screen. A bit sloppy and obvious the scene was actually shot in a studio. It's a shame, as the segment is quite tense and well done otherwise.
Overall, a bit of a mixed bag that is still well worth seeing. Segments one and three are definitely the ones to see.
"The Ant and the Grasshopper"--This tale is about being industrious. There are two brothers--one is a an upper-class guy who has done his family proud with his business sense. The other is an idle jerk--who has no desire to work--just sponge off his gullible brother. While you'd THINK it's a tale about how hard work pays off, it isn't! In many ways, it's reminiscent of Mark Twain's stories "The Story of the Good Little Boy" and "The Story of the Bad Little Boy"--stories that at first appear to endorse the commonly promoted values--but which ultimately show us that OFTEN badness and deceit pay off far better than decency and traditional values! It's all quite cynical but a great lesson about life. Well worth seeing.
"Winter Cruise"--On a cruise on a small freighter, the crew finds one of the passengers (Miss Reid) to be annoying. She talks incessantly and is a bore. And, try as they might, they can't seem to get rid of her. However, since they are British (and incredibly polite), they don't say anything and allow her to prattle on and on. Had she been on an American ship, perhaps they would have just rapped her in the mouth! Instead, they come up with a plan--if one of them would romance her, the rest could have a tolerable cruise. They nominate, or should I say, 'volunteer' a French crew member for the unenviable task--after all, he IS French and MUST be a great lover! Later, however, the crew begins to feel a bit guilty about this ruse. This is okay segment...but I really just wanted to see them rap her in the mouth!
"Gigolo and Gigolette"--A husband and wife team work doing a strange act at a French nightclub. She dives off an 80 foot tower into five feet of water! They are VERY popular but she is scared to death to continue--but her husband is uncaring and is trying to push her to do the act even though it's so very dangerous. And, when she tells him how terrified she is, he seems unmoved. Naturally, she wonders if he really loves her. Her solution turns out to be a very bad one--and it does seem to show her exactly what he thinks of her.
In "Gigolo and Gigolette", there is a scene where the couple is talking on the beach. It's VERY obvious that the beach was added later and they were clumsily added using a technique like the green screen. A bit sloppy and obvious the scene was actually shot in a studio. It's a shame, as the segment is quite tense and well done otherwise.
Overall, a bit of a mixed bag that is still well worth seeing. Segments one and three are definitely the ones to see.
Maughm is a Masterful Story Teller
marciagirl313 July 2007
Sumerset Maughm has always been one of my favorite novelists. He has the ability to present human struggles among all classes, especially significant because of the rigid, British class system in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when he lived and wrote. All three of the stories told in "Encore," present completely different types of people facing compelling personal problems. I disagree with some of the other respondents who claim "Encore" is a flawed film. All three of the stories in this movie are equally compelling in that they manage to capture the humanity in even the most unlikely, odd characters. The dialog is witty, the acting superb. The audience grows fond of the characters, as they develop. Maughm weaves humor, tension, romance and irony together in a masterful way to create unique worlds alive with life lessons for us all. If you have the opportunity to watch "Encore," you won't be sorry you did.
Where Do We Go From Here
writers_reign30 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
By opting to call this third adaptation of Maugham short stories Encore the producers leave themselves no room for further movies. It's notable that this time around the project is a Two Cities production rather than Gainsborough who shot the first two. With another three stories it makes a grand total of ten Maugham adaptations over three years. Nigel Patrick hits just the right note as the lovable rogue in The Ant And The Grasshopper, releasing effortless charm as and when called for and the epitome of the unrepentant hedonist. Kay Walsh scores heavily in Winter Cruise as the garrulous spinster in the confined space of a sea voyage who may or may not have consummated a sexual relationship with the ship's steward. The final segment, Gigolo And Gigolette is badly flawed by Terence Morgan's unrealistic and unbelievable change of heart. Everything he does and says shouts out to us that he is cynically exploiting his wife, Glynis Johns, in pursuit of the almighty dollar. For her part she is increasingly terrified of having to dive 80 feet into 5 feet of water twice a night in front of a Riviera night club audience waiting for her to kill herself. This is okay as far as it goes until Morgan, against all known psychology, declares that he truly loves her and is happy to starve. Overall a watchable coda to the series.
Two out of three, not bad...for ENCORE...
Doylenf30 May 2007
Another Somerset Maugham short story anthology, getting off to a bad start with the first story THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER not exactly first rate but amusing, due to the performances of n'er-do-well NIGEL PATRICK as the philandering brother who ends up marrying the third richest girl in the world much to the annoyance of his stuffy but reliable brother ROLAND CULVER; a cruise ship story about a woman who never stops talking and driving everyone in sight (including the audience) a bit crazy, well played by KAY WALSH; and finally, a story about a young couple who are part of a diving act from an 80 ft. platform but facing fears about the life and death feat designed to entertain some jaded tourist trade at a fancy hotel.
The third and longest segment is the most interesting, with GLYNIS JOHNS as the diver losing her nerve and TERENCE MORGAN as her worried husband. There's no telling which way the ending will go until the last moment and it keeps you glued to the story's finish.
Summing up: With introductions by the famous author himself, it's a fun way to spend an hour and a half.
The third and longest segment is the most interesting, with GLYNIS JOHNS as the diver losing her nerve and TERENCE MORGAN as her worried husband. There's no telling which way the ending will go until the last moment and it keeps you glued to the story's finish.
Summing up: With introductions by the famous author himself, it's a fun way to spend an hour and a half.
ENCORE (Pat Jackson, Anthony Pelissier and Harold French, 1951) ***
Bunuel197618 July 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The third and final cinematic anthology of W. Somerset Maugham stories (with the celebrated author turning up to introduce them) is also the weakest, if still eminently watchable and reasonably entertaining along the way. Again, here we have three tales (adapted by such noted scribes as T.E.B. Clarke and Eric Ambler, among others) – while the middle one is virtually the distaff version of “Mr. Know-All” from the previous film, TRIO (1950), and the third somewhat insubstantial and melodramatic, the first is one of my favorites from all three compendiums.
“The Ant And The Grasshopper”, then, is once more a brilliant showcase for underrated actor Nigel Patrick – he plays the ne’er-do-well younger brother of respected businessman Roland Culver. In the past, the latter had lent his sibling money but now refuses to support him any longer: Patrick retaliates by taking odd jobs unbecoming of the family status but making sure to be seen by Culver, thus embarrassing him at every turn (the former even contrives an ingenious plan by which to swindle the latter out of yet another sum of money via a third party)! Eventually, much to everyone’s surprise, Patrick lands himself a wife who also happens to be one of the richest women in the world – in this way, he’s not only able to repay Culver all his dues but also to retain their family estate…which the elder brother had earlier tried to sell off for his own selfish ends!
“Winter Cruise” replaces Nigel Patrick’s sophisticated know-it-all Mr. Kelada with an even more irritating chatterbox i.e. spinsterish coffee-shop owner Kay Walsh, one of the passengers on a ship commandeered by Noel Purcell. When it’s called back to England, since Walsh is the only one with a return ticket (not having stopped at any port of call during the journey), the navy men – including doctor Ronald Squire and engineer John Laurie – are forced to take her along…which is a prospect none of them are looking forward to, given the woman’s presumptuous nature! Therefore, to take stock of the situation, they decide Walsh needs some form of distraction – which arrives via a most unlikely romance supplied by the timid French steward on board!!
“Gigolo And Gigolette” deals with a couple (Glynis Johns and Terence Morgan) engaged at a holiday resort to provide specialist entertainment for the guests – twice per night, she performs a dangerous stunt by diving from a great height into a flaming pool. While some jaded members of the public feel they’re not getting their money’s worth because the show is over all-too-soon, others are morbidly drawn to it in the event that an accident occurs and the girl is killed before their very eyes! The pressure of having to repeat the drop over and over eventually gives the girl cold feet (pardon the pun); this is accentuated by a sudden visit from a formerly renowned woman stunt-performer who’s long since been forgotten. Morgan had become used to the idea of making money in this way, and he even negotiates an extension of their contract with the hotel manager – but Johns will have none of it; after the inevitable row with her husband, in a desperate bid to secure a future for themselves, she gambles all their savings at a casino and loses. Therefore, she resigns herself to the jump without having Morgan at her side – however, he rushes to his wife’s support when the old ex-“Human Cannonball” lady tells him Johns will be carrying on with the act regardless.
“The Ant And The Grasshopper”, then, is once more a brilliant showcase for underrated actor Nigel Patrick – he plays the ne’er-do-well younger brother of respected businessman Roland Culver. In the past, the latter had lent his sibling money but now refuses to support him any longer: Patrick retaliates by taking odd jobs unbecoming of the family status but making sure to be seen by Culver, thus embarrassing him at every turn (the former even contrives an ingenious plan by which to swindle the latter out of yet another sum of money via a third party)! Eventually, much to everyone’s surprise, Patrick lands himself a wife who also happens to be one of the richest women in the world – in this way, he’s not only able to repay Culver all his dues but also to retain their family estate…which the elder brother had earlier tried to sell off for his own selfish ends!
“Winter Cruise” replaces Nigel Patrick’s sophisticated know-it-all Mr. Kelada with an even more irritating chatterbox i.e. spinsterish coffee-shop owner Kay Walsh, one of the passengers on a ship commandeered by Noel Purcell. When it’s called back to England, since Walsh is the only one with a return ticket (not having stopped at any port of call during the journey), the navy men – including doctor Ronald Squire and engineer John Laurie – are forced to take her along…which is a prospect none of them are looking forward to, given the woman’s presumptuous nature! Therefore, to take stock of the situation, they decide Walsh needs some form of distraction – which arrives via a most unlikely romance supplied by the timid French steward on board!!
“Gigolo And Gigolette” deals with a couple (Glynis Johns and Terence Morgan) engaged at a holiday resort to provide specialist entertainment for the guests – twice per night, she performs a dangerous stunt by diving from a great height into a flaming pool. While some jaded members of the public feel they’re not getting their money’s worth because the show is over all-too-soon, others are morbidly drawn to it in the event that an accident occurs and the girl is killed before their very eyes! The pressure of having to repeat the drop over and over eventually gives the girl cold feet (pardon the pun); this is accentuated by a sudden visit from a formerly renowned woman stunt-performer who’s long since been forgotten. Morgan had become used to the idea of making money in this way, and he even negotiates an extension of their contract with the hotel manager – but Johns will have none of it; after the inevitable row with her husband, in a desperate bid to secure a future for themselves, she gambles all their savings at a casino and loses. Therefore, she resigns herself to the jump without having Morgan at her side – however, he rushes to his wife’s support when the old ex-“Human Cannonball” lady tells him Johns will be carrying on with the act regardless.
Step or two down from Maugham---made for TV quality
filmalamosa14 February 2012
Entertaining this is 3 short stories by Somerset Maugham. The first one was dull 2.... the second one passable 5 and the last one a 6.
On the whole there was too much emphasis on dotting i's and crossing t's. More subtlety in acting and directing would have been nice.
The book would have had the polish of the author with details that engage...the movie does not. So you get what you get a made for TV type special...
It passes time that is about it.
Maughm was not the best author in the world but he could hold your interest...this boiler plate is a step or two down.
On the whole there was too much emphasis on dotting i's and crossing t's. More subtlety in acting and directing would have been nice.
The book would have had the polish of the author with details that engage...the movie does not. So you get what you get a made for TV type special...
It passes time that is about it.
Maughm was not the best author in the world but he could hold your interest...this boiler plate is a step or two down.
Encore Is A Mixed Bag
GManfred22 November 2011
Overall I rate 'Encore' a 7, but the stories vary greatly. I liked the first one the best, as I thoroughly enjoyed Nigel Patrick's portrayal of a devil-may-care wastrel who sponges off his hard-working brother but always seems to land on his feet. As with all Maugham stories the dialogue is sophisticated and clever, so much so that you listen intently for the next juicy morsel so as not to miss any.
The second story is more subtle, the dialogue more droll and understated than the first, and I thought Kay Walsh was delightful as the gabby-guts spinster. The ship's crew becomes more desperate and exasperated and the circumstances funnier as the voyage drags on until the ambiguous ending. I thought this story captured the essence of Maugham's erudition and sense of humor better than the other two.
I disagree with other reviewers in that I thought the last story about the diving act was the weakest of the three, and it was the longest. It lacks credulity and is a humorless exercise in tedium, and I really couldn't imagine going to a fancy restaurant to watch a 30 second high diving act. The love-story angle is not really compelling but is brought to life by Glynis Johns, who did the best she could.
On the whole, it was well-done and with the added bonus of having Somerset Maugham himself introduce each segment. 'Encore' is well worth your time.
The second story is more subtle, the dialogue more droll and understated than the first, and I thought Kay Walsh was delightful as the gabby-guts spinster. The ship's crew becomes more desperate and exasperated and the circumstances funnier as the voyage drags on until the ambiguous ending. I thought this story captured the essence of Maugham's erudition and sense of humor better than the other two.
I disagree with other reviewers in that I thought the last story about the diving act was the weakest of the three, and it was the longest. It lacks credulity and is a humorless exercise in tedium, and I really couldn't imagine going to a fancy restaurant to watch a 30 second high diving act. The love-story angle is not really compelling but is brought to life by Glynis Johns, who did the best she could.
On the whole, it was well-done and with the added bonus of having Somerset Maugham himself introduce each segment. 'Encore' is well worth your time.
Save the best for last
calvertfan6 March 2002
This is another trio of Somerset Maugham's short stories. The first one has been wiped from my memory, it was exceedingly dull! The second one started off well, and ended splendidly, but started to drag in the middle. It's the 3rd and final tale that is the gem, centering on a daredevil girl who "dives from a height of 80 feet in 5 foot of flames" - her pool to land in is actually set alight! - and her boyfriend, who are trying to get some money together for a safe future, by her doing a most unsafe act. It will have you on the edge of your seat, guaranteed! Respectively, I give the three tales 3, 6, and 10 out of 10.
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