Search - Quartet on DVD

Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1981 DVD Release: 02/24/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Merchant Ivory Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Drama, Romantic Drama, Period Film, Film a Clef

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, All Movie Guide

Alan Bates - H.J. Heidler
Maggie Smith - Lois
Isabelle Adjani - Marya Zelli
Anthony Higgins - Stephan
Daniel Chatto - Guy

Based on the novel by Jean Rhys, Quartet is a romantic drama from the filmmaking team of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant set in 1920s Paris. The film, which stars Maggie Smith and Isabelle Adjani, has been given an anamorphic transfer on this DVD and is presented in the widescreen format. The English soundtrack has been rendered in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono and English subtitles are also available. In addition to the film itself, the disc offers viewers insight into the creation of the film with a series of interviews with director Ivory, producer Merchant, screenwriter Ruth Prawer, and composer Richard Robbins. Last, but not least, the theatrical trailer has been included. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide