Quartet (1981)
Release Date: Oct 25, 1981 Wide
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Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 584
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Movie Info
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
Oct 25, 1981 Wide
Feb 24, 2004
Criterion Collection
Cast
-
Alan Bates
H.J. Heidler -
Maggie Smith
Lois -
Isabelle Adjani
Marya Zelli -
Anthony Higgins
Stephan -
Daniel Chatto
Guy -
Pierre Clémenti
Theo the pornographer -
Suzanne Flon
Concierge -
Sheila Gish
Anna -
Daniel Mesguich
Schlamovitz -
Jeffrey Kime
James -
Caroline Loeb
Nun -
Serge Marquand
Night Club Owner -
Armelia McQueen
Nell Singer -
Bernice Stegers
Miss Nicholson -
Virginie Thévenet
Mlle. Chardin -
Humbert Balsan
Impresario's Friend -
Sebastien Floche
Hatuchamp -
Annie Noel
Maid -
Michel Such
Guard -
Romain Bremond
Youth -
Paulita Sedgwick
Esther -
Josine Comellas
Cafe Patronne -
Francois Viaur
Lefranc
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All Critics (7) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (2) | DVD (4)
Frankly, you'll find much better works from the Merchant-Ivory collection.
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[font=Century Gothic][/font]
[font=Century Gothic]"Quartet" is not a bad movie and much less polite than the usual Merchant Ivory production. There is even a bit of bite in this tale of expatriates in Paris, all taking from the city but giving nothing in return. Lois and H.J. act like they are slumming but are wealthy enough to exploit the city for their own purposes. Stephan is selling French art treasures to collectors abroad. And Marya is at their mercy. So, you can see, there are definitely elements of an intriguing and provocative movie in place but it never quite comes together due to a lack of boldness, along with pedestrian directing and editing. [/font]