Trio (film)

Trio

Australian daybill
Directed by Ken Annakin
Harold French
Produced by Antony Darnborough
Written by W. Somerset Maugham (stories and screenplay)
Noel Langley
R. C. Sherriff
Starring James Hayter
Kathleen Harrison
Nigel Patrick
Wilfred Hyde-White
Jean Simmons
Michael Rennie
Roland Culver
Cinematography Geoffrey Unsworth
Reginald H. Wyer
Edited by Alfred Roome
Production
company
Distributed by General Film Distributors (UK)
Paramount Pictures (US)
Release dates
  • 1 August 1950 (1950-08-01)
Running time
 91 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Box office £147,000 (by 1953)[1]

Trio (also known as W. Somerset Maugham's Trio) is a 1950 British anthology film based on three short stories by W. Somerset Maugham: "The Verger", "Mr. Know-All" and "Sanatorium". Ken Annakin directed "The Verger" and "Mr. Know-All", while Harold French was responsible for "Sanatorium".

Trio is the second of a film trilogy, all consisting of adaptations of Maugham's stories, preceded by the 1948 Quartet and followed by the 1951 Encore.

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound, Recording (Cyril Crowhurst)[2] and was the final one released under the Gainsborough Pictures banner.

Plot

The Verger

The new vicar (Michael Hordern) of St. Peter's Church is astonished to learn that the long-serving verger, Albert Foreman (James Hayter), is illiterate. When Foreman refuses to learn to read, the vicar feels he has no choice but to fire him.

On the way back to his lodgings, Foreman notices that there is not a tobacconist shop in the area. Needing work, he decides to open one. He also takes the opportunity to propose to his landlady, Emma (Kathleen Harrison). Their fledgling business is very successful, and Foreman soon sets up another shop, run by his stepdaughter and her husband. Over the next decade, Foreman starts up more and more shops, becoming a wealthy man in the process and depositing his profits at the bank.

The bank manager (Felix Aylmer) recommends that he invest his sizeable savings to get a better return on his money, causing Foreman to reveal that he has not been able to because he could not read the necessary papers. The stunned manager exclaims (rhetorically) 'what would you be if you could read?'; Foreman replies that he would be the verger of St. Peter's Church.

Mr. Know-All

Reserved Mr. Gray (Wilfred Hyde-White) finds himself forced to share a cabin on an ocean liner with the loud, opinionated, supremely self-confident gem dealer Max Kelada (Nigel Patrick). Kelada soon dominates all the onboard social gatherings, much to the annoyance of his fellow passengers, who take to calling him "Mr. Know-All" behind his back because of his insistence that he is an expert on all subjects.

One night, he remarks on the fine quality of the pearl necklace worn by the pretty Mrs. Ramsay (Anne Crawford), who has rejoined her husband (Naunton Wayne) after a two-year separation caused by his work. Mr. Ramsay bets him that the pearls are fake; Kelada swiftly accepts the wager, despite Mrs. Ramsay's attempt to call it off. While examining the pearls, Kelada observes that the woman is very uneasy. He then admits that he was wrong and pays Mr. Ramsay.

Afterwards, back in their cabin, Gray and Kelada are surprised when a banknote is slipped under their door. Gray gets Kelada to tell the truth: the pearls are real and very costly. Kelada adds that he would not have left such an attractive wife alone for that long. Gray begins to warm to his cabinmate.

Sanatorium

Based on "Sanatorium", included in the 1947 collection of Maugham stories Creatures of Circumstance.

Writer Mr. Ashenden (Roland Culver) is sent to a sanatorium for his health. While there, he becomes acquainted with the lives and dramas of the residents. Another newcomer is the scandalous Major George Templeton (Michael Rennie), who admires lovely Evie Bishop (Jean Simmons). Evie has spent years in one sanatorium after another. Ashenden also observes the ongoing feud between longtime patients Mr. Campbell (John Laurie) and Mr. McLeod (Finlay Currie), who delight in making each other's lives miserable. Finally, Mr. Chester (Raymond Huntley) resents the visits of his loving wife (Betty Ann Davies) because he envies her robust good health.

Tragedy strikes when McLeod dies, depriving Campbell of his enjoyment of life. Meanwhile, George and Evie fall in love; however, doctors warn them that George will hasten his death if they marry and try to enjoy a normal life. Despite the warning, the lovers decide that happiness, no matter how brief, is worth the price and leave the sanatorium. Their example eases Mr. Chester's bitterness with his own fate and strengthens his love for his wife.

Cast

The Verger

Mr. Know-All

Sanatorium

Critical reception

Box Office

Trade papers called the film a "notable box office attraction" in British cinemas in 1950.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Andrew Spicer, Sydney Box Manchester Uni Press 2006 p 211
  2. ↑ "The 23rd Academy Awards (1951) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  3. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (1950-10-11). "Movie Review - Trio - THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'Trio,' Based on Old Stories by Somerset Maugham, Opens at the Sutton Theatre". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  4. ↑ "Trio Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  5. ↑ Robert Murphy, Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48 2003 p212
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