Sons and Lovers (1960)

Director:

Jack Cardiff

Writers:

Gavin Lambert (screenplay) and
T.E.B. Clarke (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 August 1960 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You'll never forget the young lovers in...

Plot Keywords:

Heart Attack | Coal Miner | Family Relationships | Drunkenness | Death Of Mother

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Trevor Howard	...	Walter Morel
Dean Stockwell	...	Paul Morel
Wendy Hiller	...	Mrs. Morel
Mary Ure	...	Clara Dawes
Heather Sears	...	Miriam
William Lucas	...	William Morel
Conrad Phillips	...	Baxter Dawes
Ernest Thesiger	...	Mr. Hadlock
Donald Pleasence	...	Pappleworth
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Leivers
Sean Barrett	...	Arthur Morel
Elizabeth Begley	...	Mrs. Radford
Edna Morris	...	Mrs. Anthony
Ruth Kettlewell	...	Mrs. Bonner
Anne Sheppard	...	Rose
Susan Travers	...	Betty
Rosalie Ashley	...	Louisa
Dorothy Gordon	...	Fanny
Vilma Ann Leslie	...	Connie
Anne Scott	...	Beatrice
Patsy Smart	...	Emma
Gwendolyn Watts	...	May
Philip Ray	...	Dr. Ansell
Trevor Little	...	Comedian
Sheila Bernette	...	Polly

Directed by
Jack Cardiff

Writing credits
Gavin Lambert		(screenplay) and
T.E.B. Clarke		(screenplay)
D.H. Lawrence		(novel)

Produced by
Thomas N. Morahan	....	associate producer (as Tom Morahan)
Jerry Wald	....	producer

Original Music by
Mario Nascimbene

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis

Film Editing by
Gordon Pilkington

Casting by
Nora Roberts

Production Design by
Thomas N. Morahan		(as Tom Morahan)

Costume Design by
Margaret Furse

Makeup Department
Harold Fletcher	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Geoffrey Haine	....	production manager
Edward Joseph	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Yates	....	assistant director

Art Department
Lionel Couch	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Don Challis	....	sound editor
Peter Handford	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Denys N. Coop	....	camera operator (as Denys Coop)
Ronnie Maasz	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Music Department
Lambert Williamson	....	conductor
Lambert Williamson	....	music arranger: Offenbach (uncredited)

Other crew
Angela Martelli	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Productions
• Company of Artists, The

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1960) (UK) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• inD DVD (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (DVD rating) | Portugal:(Banned) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Trivia:

The film was shot in many of the locations that D.H. Lawrenceactually lived in.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010)

excellent Lawrence adaptation, absorbing and detailed

This is perhaps Jack Cardiff's best known film as a director, and it is certainly not a letdown. 'Sons and Lovers' was DH Lawrence's most autobiographical novel, and here, although some aspects have been shorn down or removed, the substance of that novel comes through.

In the main roles we have US actor Dean Stockwell as Paul Morel, the son who is suffocated by his overbearing mother, and derided by his miner father. His parents are played by Wendy Hiller and Trevor Howard, and they are brilliant in difficult roles. Stockwell, less so, although he certainly looks the part.

The women in Paul's life are played by Heather Sears - another annoying part as Miriam which reminds me of her 'Room at the Top' performance a few years earlier - and Mary Ure, who is a little bland but watchable as Clara. Somehow Ure never really found her niche on the screen.

The film looks sumptuous and the black and white photography is exactly right. There are moving scenes and moments of comedy, plus a wicked cameo appearance by Ernest Thiesinger as an art collector.

This film is much less known than more showy Lawrence adaptations such as 'Women in Love', but it is excellent, well-paced, and is far from a disappointment.