This movie ticks me off.

I think there's something to your argument and I definitely found Mary (not sure why you called her Ann? No matter since the post is two years old and this board appears to be vacant. Perhaps you were calling her by the actress's name) to be a largely unsympathetic character, but I disagree with the oft-recited line that "rich people have nothing to worry about." While it's true that wealthy people do not live each day wondering where their next meal will come from, the same can be said of virtually anyone with decent employment in a developed country in today's day and age; the idea that anyone with a comfortable financial situation has "nothing to worry about" is a bit naive. Still, I didn't find the Mary character particularly likable or sympathetic and I only watched the movie to round out my viewing of Lean's filmography. It's a well made film with typically beautiful cinematography and strong storytelling but it's essentially a soap opera and not something I'm going to have any more than a general admiration for.

You have a point. Sometimes they have to do these things to make an interesting movie. One good thing I can say about the movie. If you have to sit down and watch a whimpering woman who can't make a decision, there are few ladies nicer to look at than a young Ann Todd, at her loveliest!

I don't think Mary really wanted her 'true love' at all. He was a fantasy figure to her. As you say, when she actually has the chance to be with him, she turns him down. I think that Mary was scared to confront the fact that she had developed real feelings for her husband, and persists in her silly Stephen obsession to hide from those feelings. So, when she dallies with Stephen, but then turns him down to go back to her 'safe' marriage she manages to make herself emotionally unavailable to both men. There's a self-indulgent teenage angstiness to her - she doesn't care who gets hurt by her games.

I totally agree with you about how annoying she is, though. Mary has little personality, and is cold and awkward to boot. The actress was apparently annoying as hell on set, too.

Puzzow, you might be interested in reading up on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Once one's needs of body, shelter, and safety are satisfied, one's "needs" shift to issues of love, belonging, self-actualization, esteem. It's not that people who don't have to worry about where their next meal or money is coming from don't have actual "needs". They're not necessarily "whining". They're dealing with conundrums appropriate to their level of personal security.

Granted, I'd rather have their problems than mine ;), but they're still emotional and difficult issues.

As to why she turns him down for another relationship - okay, I've just deleted two paragraphs of TMI. Suffice to say that my own life experience has taught me that the less fiery, less deeply passionate relationships can in fact carry their own attraction, can in fact emerge as the best candidates for long-term partnership. That can have exactly ZERO to do with which potential partner has more money in their pocket.

And you can know in your gut (this is what I saw happening with Mary) that even while an attraction is at its peak, it's not right for life.

I sympathize with Mary. I can see still feeling the pull of passion even after making a "firm choice" in the opposite direction. She gave into emotional weakness - a bad choice, and ultimately harmful to all involved. I don't admire her actions, but I understand them.

I wonder how much a viewer's opinion of her varies according to their own life experience. And the viewer's age, frankly. The complexities of partnerships have to be learned over the years, and that involves shucking off lots of early, uncomplicated beliefs about love, and attraction, and humans.

SPOILERS



I agree. However, this movie is beautifully filmed with wonderful moments. It's a shame that the the main character is not only impossible to figure out but unsympathetic. How does she belong to herself when she married a rich older man? Nothing makes sense about her behavior. And what about Steven? Why would give her the time of day after she turned him down? And why would poor Claude Rains not get fed up with her once and for all. (I would have chosen him in a minute LOL).

I was getting quite annoyed about half way thru, because of all this, but it's still a very high quality film with a lot of artistic creativity. On a completely trivial note, I thought it was quite unique the straight hairstyles of both Ann Todd and Rains. His teased pompadour - obviously to give him more height - looked blow-dried! Did they even have blow dryers back then?

I think the answer lies in the film's opening when she is alone on the plane and seems so happy with her vacation, coffee and first class lifestyle while being alone. Claude Rains even tells Trevor Howard that he gives his wife her space so I think the real ideal for her is to have a not so passionate relationship that can be kept at arm's length. Also, Rains has his wealth and his every present secretary so he doesn't require her to attend to him like a wife at the time.

The ending is also telling because she seems to prefer suicide to causing anyone problems and this tells me that she doesn't like the messiness of real relationships with the ups and downs and consequences but rather likes a pretty care free existence that never runs too hot.

Exactly!! I left this movie enjoying it but wondering, 'What's up with Mary?!?' I wish the film gave more explicit insight into her simultaneously erratic and indecisive decision making. How does she honestly feel about her husband? What does Steven really mean to her? The characters had little anecdotes about these relationships, but there seemed something amiss that was never explained.