The End of the Affair (1999)

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers (WGA):

Graham Greene (novel)
Neil Jordan (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 December 1999 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

camera shot of feet

Plot:

On a rainy London night in 1946, novelist Maurice Bendrix has a chance meeting with Henry Miles, husband of his ex-mistress Sarah...

Plot Keywords:

Jealousy | Obsession | World War Two | Adultery | Infidelity

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Maurice Bendrix
Stephen Rea	...	Henry Miles
Julianne Moore	...	Sarah Miles
Heather-Jay Jones	...	Henry's Maid (as Heather Jay Jones)
James Bolam	...	Mr. Savage
Ian Hart	...	Mr. Parkis
Sam Bould	...	Lance Parkis (as Samuel Bould)
Cyril Shaps	...	Waiter
Penny Morrell	...	Bendrix's Landlady
Simon Fisher-Turner	...	Doctor Gilbert (as Dr. Simon Turner)
Jason Isaacs	...	Father Richard Smythe
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Smythe
Nicholas Hewetson	...	Chief Warden
Jack McKenzie	...	Chief Engineer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nic Main	...	Commanding officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Neil Jordan

Writing credits (WGA)
Graham Greene		(novel)
Neil Jordan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Neil Jordan	....	producer
Kathy Sykes	....	co-producer
Stephen Woolley	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Nyman

Cinematography by
Roger Pratt

Film Editing by
Tony Lawson

Casting by
Susie Figgis

Production Design by
Anthony Pratt

Art Direction by
Jon Billington
Chris Seagers		(supervising art director)
Tony Woollard

Set Decoration by
John Bush
Joanne Woollard

Costume Design by
Sandy Powell

Makeup Department
Christine Beveridge	....	hair designer
Christine Beveridge	....	makeup artist
Sarah Trudi Herrmann	....	trainee makeup artist
Paolo Mantini	....	hair stylist
Elaine L. Offers	....	makeup artist: Julianne Moore
Vivien Riley	....	hair stylist
Vivien Riley	....	key makeup artist
Demelza Rogers	....	hair stylist
Demelza Rogers	....	makeup artist
Jeremy Woodhead	....	makeup artist: Ralph Fiennes
Felicity Wright	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Phil Hounam	....	unit manager
Michael Saxton	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Clayton	....	assistant director
Sean Clayton	....	assistant director
Marios Hamboulides	....	assistant director
Michael Stevenson	....	assistant director
Ian Stone	....	assistant director
Anthony Wilcox	....	assistant director

Art Department
Nicola Barnes	....	art department production assistant
John Bohan	....	construction manager
Thomas Brown	....	art department assistant
Colin Burgess	....	dressing props
David Cheesman	....	dressing props
Derek Dackombe	....	supervising carpenter
Carol Eastwood	....	construction buyer
Michael Finlay	....	painter
Heidi Gibb	....	art department assistant
Alan Gilmore	....	draughtsman
Matthew Gray	....	draughtsman (as Matt Gray)
Jo Graysmark	....	assistant art director
Alan Grenham	....	stand-by painter
David Haberfield	....	supervising painter
Robert Harper	....	painter
Gary Hedges	....	chargehand carpenter
Margaret Horspool	....	stand-by art director
Kevin Lloyd	....	chargehand stagehand
David Lowery	....	supervising carpenter
Thomas Martin	....	head carpenter
Dave Midson	....	props
Steve Mitchell	....	scenic artist
Danny O'Regan Jr.	....	stand-by carpenter
Daniel O'Regan	....	supervising carpenter
John O'Shaughnessy	....	production buyer
Keith Pitt	....	dressing props
Danny Rogers	....	graphic designer
Keith Stevenson	....	set dresser
Emma Tauber	....	art department production assistant
Bradley Torbett	....	stand-by props
Jason Torbett	....	stand-by props
Keith Vowles	....	property master
Clive Ward	....	head painter
Derek Whorlow	....	supervising stagehand
Clive Wilson	....	dressing props
Robert Wishart	....	chargehand carpenter
Tony Marks	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mark Auguste	....	sound editor
Sam Auguste	....	assistant sound editor
Tim Hands	....	adr editor
Daniel Laurie	....	assistant dialogue editor
Dominic Lester	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Lewis	....	boom operator
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant
David Stephenson	....	production sound mixer
Richard Street	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor
Colin Wood	....	sound maintenance

Special Effects by
James Brady	....	special effects technician
Dave Crownshaw	....	snow effects supervisor
Yves De Bono	....	special effects supervisor
Mark Griffin	....	special effects buyer/tech
Ron Hone	....	special effects technician (as Ronald Hone)
Trevor Neighbour	....	special effects workshop supervisor
Terry Rigarlsford	....	special effects technician
Andy Wilson	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	optical cameraman
Libby Hazell	....	visual effects producer
Chris Monks	....	CG artist
Mark Nelmes	....	visual effects supervisor
Alex Payman	....	compositing artist
Pat Wong	....	digital compositor
Jan Hogevold	....	digital scanning and recording: CFC (uncredited)
Oliver James	....	research and development (uncredited)

Stunts
Paul Jennings	....	stunts
Greg Powell	....	stunt coordinator
Lee Sheward	....	stunts
Peter Pedrero	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Appleby	....	still photographer
Danny Espey	....	electrician
Warren Ewen	....	electrician
Chuck Finch	....	gaffer
Stephen Finch	....	electrician
Guy Frost	....	clapper loader
Amy Gilliam	....	camera trainee
Martin Goddard	....	stand-by rigger
Alan Grosch	....	electrician
Edwin Hawkins	....	rigger
Peter Hawkins	....	rigger
Simon Lucas	....	electrician
Clive Mackey	....	focus puller
Colin Manning	....	grip
Keith Manning	....	grip
Graham Martyr	....	focus puller
Billy Merrell	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Bill Merrell)
Andrew Nolan	....	practical electrician
Tommy O'Sullivan	....	electrician
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator
Elliot Thomas	....	electrician
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Garie Wetherill	....	video assist trainee
Bernt Wiese	....	clapper loader (as Berndt Wiese)
Gordon Segrove	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kate Bryden	....	casting assistant
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Toni Brennand	....	wardrobe
John Cowell	....	head costume painter
Charlotte Finlay	....	wardrobe
Annie Hadley	....	chief costume cutter
Joe Hobbs	....	wardrobe
Sharon Long	....	costume supervisor
Debbie Scott	....	assistant costume designer
Sunita Singh	....	wardrobe
Dominic Young	....	costume maker

Editorial Department
Jens Baylis	....	first assistant editor
Michael J. Gaffey	....	post-production runner (as Mike Gaffey)
Valentina Giambanco	....	second assistant editor
Matthew Tucker	....	assistant editor
Natasha Wilkinson	....	editor trainee
Philippa Wood	....	post-production coordinator
Nuala Roche	....	assistant conforming editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Cameron Allan	....	music producer
Alexander Balanescu	....	musician: solo violin
Michael Connell	....	supervising music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Austin Ince	....	music engineer
Michael Nyman	....	conductor
Jackie Shave	....	orchestra leader
Rachel Allen	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Nick Barr	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Mark Berrow	....	musician: viola (uncredited)
Dave Clarke	....	music engineer (uncredited)
Nick Cooper	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems (uncredited)
Dermot Crehan	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Beverley Davison	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Manon Derome	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Martin Elliott	....	musician: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone (uncredited)
Jonathan Evans-Jones	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Christian Forshaw	....	musician: English horn (uncredited)
Simon Haram	....	musician: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone (uncredited)
John Harle	....	musician: soprano and alto saxophone (uncredited)
Sophie Harris	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Tony Hinnigan	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Ian Humphries	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Philippa Ibbotson	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Austin Ince	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Patrick Kiernan	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Boguslav Kostecki	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Christopher Laurence	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Julian Leaper	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
David Lee	....	musician: bass trombone and tuba (uncredited)
Rita Manning	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Paul Martin	....	musician: viola (uncredited)
Anne Morfee	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Kate Musker	....	musician: viola (uncredited)
Everton Nelson	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Andrew Parker	....	musician: viola (uncredited)
Helen Paterson	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Maciej Rakowski	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
David Roah	....	musician: soprano and alto saxophone (uncredited)
William Schofield	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Mary Scully	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Jackie Shave	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Katherine Shave	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Steve Sidwell	....	musician: trumpet/flugelhorn (uncredited)
Sonia Slany	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Jonathan Snowden	....	musician: flute, alto sax, piccolo and bassoon (uncredited)
Cathy Thompson	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Phil Todd	....	musician: flute, alto sax and piccolo (uncredited)
Chris Tombling	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Bruce White	....	musician: viola (uncredited)
Paul Willey	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Warren Zielinski	....	musician: violin (uncredited)

Other crew
Beth Bellson	....	stand-in: Julianne Moore
Alan Bennett	....	production assistant
Aron Clayton	....	production assistant
Susan d'Arcy	....	unit publicist
Diana Dill	....	script supervisor
John Eccleston	....	post-production accountant
John Erraught	....	development executive
Marios Hamboulides	....	production assistant
Sarah Hamilton	....	assistant production coordinator
Ben Harrison	....	floor runner
Steve Hart	....	first assistant location manager
Amanda Hawes	....	location assistant
Sarah Hunt	....	assistant production accountant
Sarah Jordan	....	assistant: Neil Jordan
Allin Kempthorne	....	typing double: Ralph Fiennes
Kimie Kimura-Heaney	....	set production assistant
Damon Meredith	....	assistant location manager
Kelly Messias	....	assistant: Ralph Fiennes
Steve Morphew	....	stand-in: Ralph Fiennes
Ali Moshref	....	assistant production accountant
Anya Noakes	....	publicist
Peter Ogunsalu	....	assistant: Stephen Woolley
Maggie Phelan	....	production accountant
Roger Phillips	....	title designer
David Pinnington	....	location manager
Brenda Rawn	....	executive assistant: Neil Jordan
Christina Rice	....	assistant: Julianne Moore
Frances Richardson	....	assistant production accountant
Deryn Stafford	....	production coordinator
Graham Stevens	....	stand-in: Stephen Rea
Becky Symons	....	production assistant (as Rebecca Symons)
David Theodore	....	bassoon
Jason Wheeler	....	production assistant
Lucy Williams	....	location assistant
Julia Wilson Dickson	....	dialogue coach (as Julia Wilson-Dickson)
Philippa Wood	....	assistant: Stephen Woolley

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Canvas (2004) (Belgium) (TV) (first national airing)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Home Video (GCTHV) (2000) (France) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC)
• Snow Business International (snow effects)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• ARRI Media  camera grip equipment
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  avid systems supplied by
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Whitfield Street Studios  music mixed at (uncredited)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for scenes of strong sexuality

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36457) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:R21 | Hong Kong:III | Spain:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:M | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Julianne Moore's role was played in the previous film version by Deborah Kerr. This same year, another one of Kerr's films was remade: The King and I (1956) was remade as Anna and the King (1999), with Jodie Foster. Moore later went on to take over Foster's role in Hannibal (2001).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Henry storms out of the pub after Bendrix tells him about Smythe, Bendrix finishes off his whisky in one gulp. In the next shot, there is still some whisky in the glass.

Quotes:

Sarah:Tell Him I'm sorry. I'm too human. Too weak. Tell Him I can't keep my promises. I'm tired of being without you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Vampire Diaries: The End of the Affair (#3.3)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Hurry Home

Thanks to the excellent performances this isn't just another romantic drama

As so often, I haven't yet read the novel this movie was based on. So again, you can't expect from me that I make a comparison between the two. But even if I had read the book I don't think I would have talked about it, because this doesn't honor the many work and inspiration that the director has put in it. It's not because he uses an existing story, that what he does with it, has to be completely the same...

Even though the largest part of the story is situated during the Second World War, it doesn't start there. We first meet the novelist Maurice Bendrix and Henry Miles, the husband of his ex-mistress Sarah, on a rainy night in London in 1946. For a reason we don't know yet, the affair between Bendrix and Sarah was abruptly ended by her, two years before, and since then they hadn't seen each other. Now Bendrix's obsession with Sarah immediately gets a new spark and out of jealousy he arranges to have her followed. That's when we learn the reason for their separation. During a bombing raid, Sarah made a bargain with God. She would sacrifice their relationship in exchange for Bendrix's life. He survived and that's why she didn't want to see him anymore. But when he reappears, she soon realizes that it will be very difficult to keep her promise to God...

When you hear in the trailer that Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore are magic together, you might believe that this is just some nice promo talk, only intended for making you buy the DVD. But for once they really didn't exaggerate. Together they lifted this movie to a higher level, although it must be said that Stephen Rea did a very fine job too. The fact that they had a very good and well-written script to work with, must have helped them too of course. Some were not pleased with what they called a couple of 'soft-porn scenes' but personally I didn't have a problem with that at all. In my opinion this only added to the rawness of the emotions.

Some will also say that this is an incredibly boring movie. Well, if you don't like or are not used to watching a movie without big action scenes, than this is absolutely true. If you are such a person, than you better leave it alone and choose something else. But when you like to see a quality product (and no I'm not going to use the title 'art'-movie because I hate that name and this certainly isn't such a movie), with believable emotions, a great story and some excellent acting performances, than this might be a movie that you definitely should give a try. I really liked what I saw and that's why I give it a 7.5/10 at least, maybe even an 8/10.