Quartet (1981)
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32% of users liked it
(583 ratings)
No relation to the 1949 Somerset Maugham "omnibus" film of the same name, 1981's Quartet is based on the roman a clef by Jean Rhys. Though the names are changed, it is clearly the story of Rhys' romance with Ford Maddox Ford in 1920s Paris. The titular quartet consists of novelist… More No relation to the 1949 Somerset Maugham "omnibus" film of the same name, 1981's Quartet is based on the roman a clef by Jean Rhys. Though the names are changed, it is clearly the story of Rhys' romance with Ford Maddox Ford in 1920s Paris. The titular quartet consists of novelist Isabelle Adjani, her Polish husband Anthony Higgins, wealthy philanderer Alan Bates and Bates' artist wife Maggie Smith. Though she's been indulgent of Higgins's past indiscretions, Smith isn't keen on her husband carrying on an affair with Adjani under their own roof. Meanwhile, Higgins sits in prison, jailed for his various petty thefts. Once Higgins is released, he learns about the Bates-Adjani-Smith contretemps. When the dust settles, it is Adjani who suffers the most. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- James Ivory
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Art House & International
- In Theaters
- Oct 25, 1981 Wide
- Studio
- Criterion Collection
Critic Reviews
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Frankly, you'll find much better works from the Merchant-Ivory collection.
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Cast
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Alan Bates
as H.J. Heidler
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Maggie Smith
as Lois
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Isabelle Adjani
as Marya Zelli
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Anthony Higgins
as Stephan
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Daniel Chatto
as Guy
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Pierre Clémenti
as Theo the pornographer
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Suzanne Flon
as Concierge
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Sheila Gish
as Anna
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Daniel Mesguich
as Schlamovitz
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Jeffrey Kime
as James
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Caroline Loeb
as Nun
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Serge Marquand
as Night Club Owner
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Armelia McQueen
as Nell Singer
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Bernice Stegers
as Miss Nicholson
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Virginie Thévenet
as Mlle. Chardin
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Humbert Balsan
as Impresario's Friend
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Sebastien Floche
as Hatuchamp
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Annie Noel
as Maid
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Michel Such
as Guard
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Romain Bremond
as Youth
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Paulita Sedgwick
as Esther
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Josine Comellas
as Cafe Patronne
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Francois Viaur
as Lefranc