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The Passionate Friends

Play trailer Poster for The Passionate Friends 1949,  1h 35m,  Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 73% 11 Reviews Tomatometer 60% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In this drama, based on the H.G. Wells novel, Mary (Ann Todd) longs for Steven (Trevor Howard), a lover she turned down years ago. Later, Mary is married to Howard (Claude Rains), but meets up with Steven while on vacation in the Swiss Alps. A seemingly platonic encounter fueled by pent-up passion leads to an affair between Mary and Steven, and she must choose between the two men -- the husband who loves her and the now-married man she rejected years earlier.

Critics Reviews

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Liz Hoggard London Evening Standard Jan 12, 2018
The Passionate Friends looks gorgeous and has a feverishly modern intensity. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
Polished acting, masterly direction and an excellent script put The Passionate Friends in the top rank of class British productions. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Oct 18, 2008
A minor gem from the David Lean canon. Go to Full Review
Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Nov 14, 2024
3.5/4
David Lean returns to the type of tortured romance he had explored in 1945’s Brief Encounter. Go to Full Review
MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin Feb 8, 2018
It is not a restful film and does not, for example, possess the integrity such as was shown by David Lean in his treatment of Brief Encounter. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Aug 27, 2008
C+
The glossy direction of the talented Lean made it watchable but only mildly pleasing as soapy entertainment. Go to Full Review
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The Passionate Friends

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

Ann Todd

Mary Justin

Trevor Howard

Professor Steven Stratton

Claude Rains

Howard Justin

Betty Ann Davies

Miss Joan Layton

Isabel Dean

Pat Stratton

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The Passionate Friends

The Passionate Friends (1949) The Passionate Friends (1949) The Passionate Friends (1949) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this drama, based on the H.G. Wells novel, Mary (Ann Todd) longs for Steven (Trevor Howard), a lover she turned down years ago. Later, Mary is married to Howard (Claude Rains), but meets up with Steven while on vacation in the Swiss Alps. A seemingly platonic encounter fueled by pent-up passion leads to an affair between Mary and Steven, and she must choose between the two men -- the husband who loves her and the now-married man she rejected years earlier.
Director
David Lean
Producer
Ronald Neame
Screenwriter
Eric Ambler, David Lean, Stanley Haynes
Production Co
Cineguild
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 35m
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