Sir Laurence Olivier portrays a good man,in every sense of the term:he believes in education as a way of social promotion,he believes in respect for the students he teaches to,he believes in nonviolence (wasn't he a conscientious objector in the war? you were because you were afraid ,says his wife you're always afraid).
Mr Weir lives in a world whICH has not still forgotten WW2 ;towards the end,the scene on the streets where he sees young people dance to the sound of a juke box,or a newsstand full of pornographic magazines-hence his anger when the judge brings the verdict- show that the times are changing and perhaps not for the best. He is a teacher,a job which is ,par excellence,a job people love to put down (today more than ever these people need all our respect cause Terence Stamp in this movie is an angel compared to some of today's youngsters);his wife (Simone Signoret) does not consider him a man (the last picture is ,for that matter,revealing:you've got to be cruel to be kind);he gives free private tuition ,and doesn't even get a thank you from the parents. When all the values you believe in are flouted,you have no more reason to live.
Sarah Miles (debut) matches sir Olivier every step of the way,particularly in the scenes of trial.Her portrayal unlayers every nuance of her fragility and desperation (even if we're not told so,isn't it because her father does not give any love or affection that she is not interested in young boys?).She may try to be a woman,but she breaks like a little girl.
Mr Weir lives in a world whICH has not still forgotten WW2 ;towards the end,the scene on the streets where he sees young people dance to the sound of a juke box,or a newsstand full of pornographic magazines-hence his anger when the judge brings the verdict- show that the times are changing and perhaps not for the best. He is a teacher,a job which is ,par excellence,a job people love to put down (today more than ever these people need all our respect cause Terence Stamp in this movie is an angel compared to some of today's youngsters);his wife (Simone Signoret) does not consider him a man (the last picture is ,for that matter,revealing:you've got to be cruel to be kind);he gives free private tuition ,and doesn't even get a thank you from the parents. When all the values you believe in are flouted,you have no more reason to live.
Sarah Miles (debut) matches sir Olivier every step of the way,particularly in the scenes of trial.Her portrayal unlayers every nuance of her fragility and desperation (even if we're not told so,isn't it because her father does not give any love or affection that she is not interested in young boys?).She may try to be a woman,but she breaks like a little girl.