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:

The end was just the beginning.

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 | Extramarital Affair | Cuckold | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 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
Daniel O'Regan	....	supervising carpenter
Danny O'Regan Jr.	....	stand-by 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
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)
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
Mike Gaffey	....	post-production runner
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
Rachel Allen	....	musician: violin
Alexander Balanescu	....	musician: solo violin
Nick Barr	....	musician: cello
Mark Berrow	....	musician: viola
Mike Brittani	....	musician: bass guitar
Michael Chapman	....	musician: horn
David Chatterton	....	musician: trumpet and flugel horn
Dave Clarke	....	music engineer
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Nick Cooper	....	musician: cello
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Dermot Crehan	....	musician: violin
Philip D'Arcy	....	musician: viola
Beverley Davison	....	musician: violin (as Bev Davison)
Manon Derome	....	musician: violin
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor
Martin Elliott	....	musician: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone
Jonathan Evans-Jones	....	musician: violin
Christian Forshaw	....	musician: English horn
Gemma Gould	....	assistant music engineer
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Simon Haram	....	musician: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone
John Harle	....	musician: soprano and alto saxophone
Sophie Harris	....	musician: bass
Tony Hinnigan	....	musician: cello
Louise Hopkins	....	musician: cello
Ian Humphries	....	musician: violin
Philippa Ibbotson	....	musician: violin
Austin Ince	....	music engineer
Patrick Kiernan	....	musician: violin (as Pat Kiernan)
Boguslav Kostecki	....	musician: violin
Christopher Laurence	....	musician: bass (as Chris Laurence)
Julian Leaper	....	musician: violin
David Lee	....	musician: bass trombone and tuba
Rita Manning	....	musician: violin
Paul Martin	....	musician: viola
Anne Morfee	....	musician: violin (as Ann Morfee)
Kate Musker	....	musician: viola
Everton Nelson	....	musician: violin
Michael Nyman	....	conductor
Andrew Parker	....	musician: viola (as Andy Parker)
Helen Paterson	....	musician: violin
Maciej Rakowski	....	musician: violin
David Roah	....	musician: soprano and alto saxophone
Dave Russell	....	assistant music engineer
William Schofield	....	musician: bass
Mary Scully	....	musican: soprano and alto saxophone
Jackie Shave	....	musician: violin
Jackie Shave	....	orchestra leader
Katherine Shave	....	musician: violin (as Kathy Shave)
Sonia Slany	....	musician: violin
Jonathan Snowden	....	musician: flute, alto sax, piccolo and bassoon
Cathy Thompson	....	musician: violin
Phil Todd	....	musician: flute, alto sax and piccolo
Chris Tombling	....	musician: violin
Bruce White	....	musician: viola
Paul Willey	....	musician: violin
Warren Zielinski	....	musician: violin

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
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sony Classical  soundtrack

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:

Subject of David Sedaris' story (of the same name) in his 2004 book "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim."

Quotes:

Maurice: Pain is easy to write. In pain we're all drapply individual. Now what can one write about happiness?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Life Begins at Oxford Circus

Controlled and emotional at the same time

Two years after the sudden end of his affair with Sarah, Maurice bumps into her husband, Henry, who confides in him about his wife's possible infidelity. Driven by the same jealousy that plagued him during their affair, Maurice poses as Sarah's husband and hires a private detective to follow her and find out what she's doing. As his investigators probe Sarah's personal life, Maurice remembers back to his affair.

Having seen the 1950's version of this book, I was interested to see a version that didn't have to worry about the heavy censorship of that period. Funnily though, it is not the nudity, passion or sex that adds to this version of the story; rather it is the ability of the film to show the strong feeling and emotion between the characters. The plot is pretty true to the book and follows the same turns that are ultimately quite touching (even if their reliance on honour and promises to god seem out dated today). The film manages to evoke sympathy, pity and dislike for each of the three main characters - each is a victim here and the film allows us to see that and feel for each of them regardless of the rights and wrongs of their respective situations.

It is difficult to describe but the film is very much of the period; it is very reserved and honourable considering the material, but yet it is deeply emotional and involving. The only sticking point is the plot's reliance on Sarah's prayer; as I said, it seems difficult to accept in this age that this would have been held to - ironically the 50's version was more acceptable for some reason; maybe because I saw them having sex in this film, maybe then I found it harder to accept a `sinner's prayer' as it were. Besides this, it still does work well and is quite tragic as a love story - this is not a romantic date movie sort of thing!

The main reason I was able to buy into the heart of the emotion was the performances. Fiennes is so perfectly English in the role; he is restrained yet bursting with emotion. He does a wonderful job of having his character eat away at himself with jealousy without ever seeming pathetic. Conversely Rea does a good job of making his character pathetic but still very much keeping the sympathy of the audience. The fact that I get to see Moore in the buff (again!) is not a boost to this film, however her performance is. She is good in the role (better and freer than the 50's actress) even if I didn't feel she was as good as Rea and Fiennes - maybe because her character is less expressive and, simply, a `good' person: I can only assume Greene was unable to look down on his lover even after the end of the affair.

Overall this film has a few sticking points but it is a wonderful version of Greene's book of the same name. Much was made of the nudity and such, but it is the rawer emotion of this telling that makes it work well. The script puts them on the screen and the cast do well to bring them out as complex as they are in real life.