With a large ensemble cast headed by Laurence Olivier, this TV version of W. Somerset Maugham's drama about one man's desire to find art and spiritualism while living mostly alone is surprisingly passionless even if it includes some of my favorite actors in major supporting roles. Caroline fitzgerald, who played his unfortunate wife in "Wuthering Heights", Judith Anderson who played his housekeeper in "Rebecca", future British character actor legend Denholm Elliot and the married team of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy can't save this from being a tedious drama about one man's downfall into eternal loneliness.
As his somewhat shrewish wife, Fitzgerald creates a memorable characterization, but her story is brief and unresolved. Anderson gets one strong scene (simply there to introduce Olivier to her daughter, Jean Marsh), getting giggles for her long girlish hairstyle which looked silly on the post 60 years old Anderson. Cronyn and Tandy get the best part of this TV special, playing a couple separated by the news that Tandy wants to run away with Olivier. With the All-Star cast, this should have been much better, but no one really is given a chance to sink their teeth into anything merry.
As his somewhat shrewish wife, Fitzgerald creates a memorable characterization, but her story is brief and unresolved. Anderson gets one strong scene (simply there to introduce Olivier to her daughter, Jean Marsh), getting giggles for her long girlish hairstyle which looked silly on the post 60 years old Anderson. Cronyn and Tandy get the best part of this TV special, playing a couple separated by the news that Tandy wants to run away with Olivier. With the All-Star cast, this should have been much better, but no one really is given a chance to sink their teeth into anything merry.
