The Passionate Friends (1949) ( One Woman's Story ) (Blu-Ray & DVD Combo) (Blu-Ray)

Extremely interesting and absorbing drama that generates tension and suspense about what actions the intelligent, civilized, international banker Claude Raines will take as clues filter in about the restlessness of his younger wife. Some of the most effective scenes are those of smouldering volcano Raines, particularly a delicious scene where Raines is on the patio in Swtzerland dictating a high level letter about investment risks while fiddling with a pair of new binoculars. His dictation trails off as he intermittently praises the amazing detail the binoculars provide and sweeps them in ever widening arcs across the lake. Then he returns to the dictation, puts the glasses down, can't resist picking them up again, resuming and interrupting the dictation repeatedly while we squirm in our seats knowing that any second the binoculars will alight on Ann Todd and Trevor Howard returning by motorboat from an innocent, clandestine, all day cable car ride up the Swiss mountain, whiich Raines will misinterpret. The scene is exquisitely handled in all respects, with superb dissection of every conceivable possibility for tension and suspense building. This scene is an extremely accomplished achievement of cinema accomplishment, with an intricate unfolding of micro-events that are unforgettable, employing just a dictation setting at a table on a patio, the efficient secretary taking shorthand and a pair of binoculars. This is CINEMA first and foremost, with David Lean not tempted to reduce it to a standard adultery-suspicion formula and all actors rise to this higher purpose. There are some clumsy flashbacks and the sound is so faint one needs headphones to reduce listening strain, but the print is of pristine quality and, overall, it's a rare treat. There are easy to read subtitles to compensate for the faint sound.

A beautiful to look at film, well restored. It is well acted, with the three main actors making the best of the material they have to work with. It's a kind of Brief Encounter for the rich but doesn't quite come off. I would not call it a classic but it is an enjoyable watch. Anne Todd's costumes are to die for.

I love to see Claude Rains but here he is deprived of displaying any passion at all.The pace is slow and many of the scenes are needless. A sort of long brief encounter but not so well done!

I saw this film some years ago and could not really remember much about it,on watching it again I enjoyed it,I thought I was not going to, as the first 20 minutes is a little boring,but I did get into it,it was acted beautifully by Ann todd,Claude Rains And Trevor Howard although I dont consider It as good as Brief Encounter Its certainly a good story and worth watching.

DVD had a few frozen moments towards the end.

Loved this film. Ann Todd graces the screen.

David Lean's passionate story of a love triangle in pre and post-war Britain has almost as much suspense as Hitchcock, marvelous locations and superb performances. This film should be at least as celebrated as his more well-known Brief Encounter.

pleased toget this movieRegardsMike