Movies - Maurice

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Maurice (pronounced "Morris") is a 1987 film based on the novel of the same title by E. M. Forster. A tale of homosexual love in early 20th century England, it follows Maurice Hall from his school days, through university and beyond.

Produced by Merchant Ivory Productions and Channel Four Films, the film was directed by James Ivory and written by Ivory and Kit Hesketh-Harvey, produced by Ismail Merchant, with cinematography by Pierre Lhomme. It starred James Wilby as Maurice, Hugh Grant as Clive and Rupert Graves as Alec. The supporting cast included Denholm Elliott as Dr Barry, Simon Callow as Mr Ducie, Billie Whitelaw as Mrs Hall and Ben Kingsley as Lasker-Jones.

Differences in the film

Maurice is 11 at the beginning of the film, rather than 14. The film omits almost all of the novel's philosophical dialogue, and also many sub-plots such as Maurice's love for the schoolboy Dickie. It expands the Wildean character of Lord Risley and his imprisonment for immorality (he is not imprisoned in the novel), in order to dramatize the dangers of Edwardian homosexuality and provide a plot device by which Clive feels he must reject Maurice.

The place of the final tryst between Maurice and Alec has a certain homoerotic symbolism when seen in the movie; the pseudo-Elizabethan boathouse alludes both to the Arts & Crafts movement that was so associated with Edward Carpenter (a visit by E.M. Forster to Carpenter and his lover George Merrill inspired the writing of Maurice), and also to the Elizabethan England of Christopher Marlowe ("all they that love not tobacco and boys are fools") and the Sonnets of Shakespeare. In the novel the "greenwood and the night" serve as the place of refuge, and the boathouse is only alluded to.

DVD

In 2002 a special edition DVD of the film was released with a new documentary, deleted scenes, and a director's commentary.

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Movies - Maurice

Differences in the film

DVD

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