Quartet

Director: James Ivory James Ivory

Overview

No relation to the 1949 Somerset Maugham "omnibus" film of the same name, 1981's Quartet is based on the roman a clef by Jean Rhys. Though the names are changed, it is clearly the story of Rhys' romance with Ford Maddox Ford in 1920s Paris. The titular quartet consists of novelist Isabelle Adjani, her Polish husband Anthony Higgins, wealthy philanderer Alan Bates and Bates' artist wife Maggie Smith. Though she's been indulgent of Higgins's past indiscretions, Smith isn't keen on her husband carrying on an affair with Adjani under their own roof. Meanwhile, Higgins sits in prison, jailed for his various petty thefts. Once Higgins is released, he learns about the Bates-Adjani-Smith contretemps. When the dust settles, it is Adjani who suffers the most.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/24/2019
UPC:	0191329115572
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	NR
Source:	Cohen Media Group
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00

Special Features

The Making of Quartet: a conversation with James Ivory; A new conversation with James Ivory and Pierre Lhomme; Viva Cinema interview with James Ivory; Conversations with the filmmakers; Original trailer; Restoration trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alan Bates	H.J. Heidler
Maggie Smith	Lois Heidler
Isabelle Adjani	Marya Zelli
Anthony Higgins	Stephan Zelli
Armelia McQueen	Nell, Singer
Sheila Gish	Anna
Daniel Mesguich	Pierre Schlamovitz
Wiley Wood	Cairn
Bernice Stegers	Miss Nicholson
Daniel Chatto	Guy
Pierre Clementi	Theo
Suzanne Flon	Mme. Hautchamp, Concierge
Paulita Sedgwick	Esther
Virginie Thevenet	Mlle. Chardin
Pierre Bonnafet	Guard
Francois Viaur	Lefranc
Romain Bremond	Adolescent
Isabelle Canto de Maya	CirCri
Jean-Pierre Dravei	Guard
Humbert Balsan	Impresario's Friend
Sebastien Floche	Hatuchamp
Pierre Julien	Impresario
Serge Marquand	Night Club Owner
Caroline Loeb	Nun
Monique Mauclair	Concierge
Jeffrey Kime	James
Michel Such	Guard
Annie Noël	Maid
Richard Robbins	Composer

Technical Credits

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

James Ivory	Director
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala	Screenwriter
Hubert Niogret	Executive Producer
Ismail Merchant	Producer
Jean Pierre Mahot de la Querantonnais	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Many find the films of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant to be a little too reserved and placid, a charge that can quite easily be leveled at Quartet. Dry to the point of being parched, Quartet clearly intends to point up the deeper emotions that lie buried beneath the surface; yet director Ivory seems somewhat confused about what those emotions are and about what relation they have to the story. Motivations are murky; in an effectively subtle film, this can work to create a discomforting atmosphere, but in Quartet they seem murky to those behind the camera as well. This is especially true of Isabelle Adjani, a fine actress who seems left at sea here. Alan Bates turns in a much better performance, but one feels that the actor is imposing meaning into his scenes that isn't really there. Only Maggie Smith truly seems to have a clear handle on what her character is really feeling and why. Despite these flaws, the film does manage to create a palpable sense of vague melancholy that is impressive, and it is visually quite striking, from the gorgeously detailed sets and costumes to the lovely, gently evocative photography. If Quartet fails to always strike the chords it wants to, it is still haunting.