Quartet (1981) 10/10

Director James Ivory brings the bohemian Paris neighborhood of Montparnasse in the 1920s to life in this film based on the novel by Jean Rhys. Isabelle Adjani stars as Marya Zelli, a beautiful young wife who finds herself destitute after her art dealer husband is sent to prison for theft. A rich patron, H.J. Heidler (Alan Bates), and his painter wife, Lois (Maggie Smith), offer to take Marya in. Heidler, a womanizing ogre with a history of taking advantage of helpless young women, soon seduces Marya while Lois painfully accepts his philandering ways. Rhys based her novel on her own experiences as a young woman in Paris after her husband was sent to jail. The writer Ford Madox Ford, who promised to help the young novelist with her writing, befriended Rhys. He and his artist wife, Stella, took her in and Rhys became Ford's lover. However, as QUARTET reveals, there was no easy resolution to Rhys's or Marya's predicament.

Director: James Ivory
Screenwriter: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Book Author: Jean Rhys
Producers: Jean-Pierre Mahot, Ismail Merchant
Cinematography: Alex Leyton, Pierre Lhomme
Composer: Richard Robbins

Cast: Alan Bates, Maggie Smith, Isabelle Adjani, Anthony Higgins, Daniel Chattom, Pierre Clémenti, Suzanne Flon, Sheila Gish, Daniel Mesguich

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Quartet
• (1981)

[MinMcGarmiwa]

I have to say that I don't really like that sort of movies. Still I love 1920s and Maggie Smith in this film - so thanks uploading this: now I've seen one Maggie-film more and it's always a big asset. :-)

[nigelhalfwittt]

James and Ismail don't really start 'singing' until A Room with a View (1985) but I still like to check out these early films.

[AladdinV]

Thank You!!!!

[sqccccccccc]

Daniel Mesguich is a very nice man! I met him twice!

[bronteteri]

very sad movie... i don't care for these,but they do seem to copy real life.

[msdeneuve]

That was such a great film ! Thank you soooo much for uploading ! loved it

[missbabyice]

Liked it but the pace was a little too slow.

[toyamac]

@koln1996 Read her interviews and you'll understand why.

[RasMajnouni]

@koln1996 The essence of us is the soul,its infinite married to the body .As time effects only the body it very slowly grows gets taller,stronger until it reaches the pinnacle of the strength.From that peak whether age 29,36,47 or even much later the body cannot hold onto the strength so it slowly get pulled down toward its source in the dust,the water evaporates into air the body less elastic,shifts more its fire goes up & they separate.Even beauties,but soul the essence gains strength & lives.

[koln1996]

Isabelle Adani used to be so gorgeous - stunning really!!!

What has she done to her own face?

She looks hideous, monstruous in her new film "La journée de la jupe"!!!

Thanks for "Quartet"!!!

A terrific film!!!

[88jester]

I prefer duets....