Maurice

The first scene of this movie is really weird, so I ignore it and skip to 1910 where we meet the main character, Maurice Hall (James Wilby). He is studying at Cambridge; he and a few other students and a professor are discussing the difference between words and deeds. One of the other students, the loudest one, is Risley (Mark Tandy), he likes what Maurice has to say and invites him over to his dorm. Instead of meeting Risley, Maurice meets Clive Durham (Huge Grant). The two of them become good friends and some time later they fall in love and begin a secret love affair. It has to be secret because during this time in England homosexuality is a crime that is punishable by prison time, not to mention the scandal and shame brought on both of their families if they are ever caught.

Maurice is kicked out of school for disobeying the headmaster and becomes a stockbroker like his father, (and grows a fugly moustache).  All through this Clive and Maurice keep up their affair. Maurice is quite happy to keep up their secret, because he is completely in love with Clive. Clive on the other hand is not, and after he hears about Risley being arrested and jailed for being caught with a man, Clive calls it quits.

Maurice is heartbroken and begins to think there is something wrong with him. He goes to see a psychologist to try and get cured, but it fails. For some reason I can't understand the two of them remain friends. Maybe Maurice hopes he'll reconsider, but since Clive is married now, I doubt that will ever happen. Anyways, as Maurice is hanging about with Clive, he meets up with the gamekeeper, Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves). The two of them don't hit it off right away, but one night Alec climbs through Maurice's window to have a passionate night together.

Things are a little bumpy after that, because they also have status to deal with, not just with the fact they are guys. Maurice avoids Alec and then is afraid Alec will blackmail him. They make up just as Alec is supposed to sail for Brazil. Maurice begs him not to go, but Alec says no, saying it'll doom them both. So instead Maurice, goes to see him off, to discover Alec is not on the boat. Elated he runs back and into Alec's arms. Yay!

I liked this movie. It was better than Brokeback Mountain. There was actual chemistry between the characters. It was a little cheesy in places, but it was made in the eighties, I can't expect perfection. There were a few things in it that I didn't understand, but they mostly deal with English politics and socio-economical stuff at the time. And since I'm not from England or, the 1910's I doubt I'll ever get. But whatever, that wasn't the point of the movie.

It was a good movie it was just lacking something that makes it a great movie. Maybe because it's a bit simpler than what I'm used to. Oh well.

Grade: 8/10