A well-written/acted stage play brought to screen. There's very little in terms of direction here, it's all just character development. We follow the goings-on in a British hotel. But not so much a "getaway" as a mainstay for people to hangout for years. The young couple in love- fornicating to their hearts' content.
The old rich spinsters, looking down on all the rest. The old maid innkeeper, who's secretly having an affair with the American And the old British militarist who tells more stories without being taken very seriously.The drama unfolds when the American's beautiful socialite ex-wife comes to torture his peace and happiness. He was trying to settle in a quiet life, engaging himself to the hotel manager. But his passion comes out in full force when she arrives. Also, turns out that old British dude is a pervert, groping strangers in movie theaters, and they all fret about what to do with him. As the American, Lancaster is typically sexy. It's so close to his role in "...Eternity" that I can hardly grab on to it as something with its own merit. Much more intriguing was the perv. David Niven delivers a great performance which is both smarmy and sympathetic. The care he takes when disappointing a younger, timid girl (not quite a half-wit, but certainly clinically nervous) played by Deborah Kerr is the highlight of the film. It was brave of Kerr to not only act against the stunning Rita Hayworth, but to also tighten up her persona to nun proportions.
December 4, 2011
