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The Passionate Friends

Play trailer Poster for The Passionate Friends 1949 1h 35m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 59% 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.
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The Passionate Friends

Critics Reviews

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Liz Hoggard London Evening Standard 01/12/2018
The Passionate Friends looks gorgeous and has a feverishly modern intensity. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
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 10/18/2008
A minor gem from the David Lean canon. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm 11/14/2024
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 02/08/2018
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 08/27/2008
C+
The glossy direction of the talented Lean made it watchable but only mildly pleasing as soapy entertainment. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Martin B @RT44235356 05/14/2025 One of the best movies of the era I can recall. Start with the fact it’s unique. No real good guys or bad guys just people being human intertwined in complex relationships. The ending perhaps a bit predictable but under the circumstances what we all wanted to see. See more Allan H @RT32011085 04/24/2025 Whenever I have seen a movie with Anne Todd in it, I come up with the word "dreary." 1949 being over 70 years ago makes Claude Rains' grimaces the only signal that trouble brewed. See more Steve D @RT35616104 01/21/2024 You have sen it all before. See more laurent b @RT95576478 02/15/2022 During almost the entire movie, I thought it was very well-directed, well-played, everything you can expect from this movie director. But everything changed after the movie had ended, something overwhelmed me, something very deep and moving. To me this is one of the director's greatest movie. See more 05/25/2020 70-year movie and still so relevant. characters with motifs, not acting as puppets for directional point. this dynamic is not taking a sides, making it still fresh and relatable love story See more 01/06/2015 I don't like this movie as much as Brief Encounter, but it is good enough to surprise you that a director of this sensibility to portray the subtle tremors of the heart made The Bridge of the River Kwai and Passage of India. See more Read all reviews
The Passionate Friends

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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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