Best known for his epic religious drama "Becket", writer and director Peter Glenville had earlier been the guiding force behind this strong British drama that could be drawn from newspaper headlines from this day with the victim (Laurence Olivier) of false accusations instantly villainized. He's a very giving school master at a school in a tough as nails working class community.
One student in particular (Sarah Miles in her film debut) has attracted his attention with her devotion to his class, and becomes dangerously obsessed with him, something Olivier's world weary wife Simone Signoret points out to him. She seems to understand every element of Olivier's soul even though she doesn't always show her love, still grieving over having lost a child.
When Olivier turns down Miles' advances on a school trip (during a big thunderstorm), knives come out, and he seems to be doomed to being found guilty. Miles uses another student (Terence Stamp, playing a real thug) in her vengeance, adding tension and social relevance to the rather common plot which due to the excellent script seems quite original.
There are some disturbing elements about the film including Olivier's violent temper, striking both Miles and Signoret at one point. It's a man pushed to the brink, basically a peaceful man, but still emotionally ripped apart by the injustice of false accusations and public opinion. Miles plays a despicable character, seen being terrorized by Stamp in one scene and kissing him passionately later just to make Olivier uncomfortable.
Miles has obviously been traumatized by a nasty mother (Thora Hird) to have such scheming traits, so the viewer understands her history. This goes into great detail to make you understand every element of these characterso. They are not cardboard cutouts. Roland Culver and Hugh Griffith are great in smaller parts. Another great element is the location shots of the factories which adds to the dour themes. I like the fact that this gives the truth a chance to be heard and isn't a scathing attack on middle aged men supposedly abusing authority. This one shows that truth isn't always what society wants it to be, and sometimes the element of lying has more layers than the truth itself.
One student in particular (Sarah Miles in her film debut) has attracted his attention with her devotion to his class, and becomes dangerously obsessed with him, something Olivier's world weary wife Simone Signoret points out to him. She seems to understand every element of Olivier's soul even though she doesn't always show her love, still grieving over having lost a child.
When Olivier turns down Miles' advances on a school trip (during a big thunderstorm), knives come out, and he seems to be doomed to being found guilty. Miles uses another student (Terence Stamp, playing a real thug) in her vengeance, adding tension and social relevance to the rather common plot which due to the excellent script seems quite original.
There are some disturbing elements about the film including Olivier's violent temper, striking both Miles and Signoret at one point. It's a man pushed to the brink, basically a peaceful man, but still emotionally ripped apart by the injustice of false accusations and public opinion. Miles plays a despicable character, seen being terrorized by Stamp in one scene and kissing him passionately later just to make Olivier uncomfortable.
Miles has obviously been traumatized by a nasty mother (Thora Hird) to have such scheming traits, so the viewer understands her history. This goes into great detail to make you understand every element of these characterso. They are not cardboard cutouts. Roland Culver and Hugh Griffith are great in smaller parts. Another great element is the location shots of the factories which adds to the dour themes. I like the fact that this gives the truth a chance to be heard and isn't a scathing attack on middle aged men supposedly abusing authority. This one shows that truth isn't always what society wants it to be, and sometimes the element of lying has more layers than the truth itself.