The Deep Blue Sea (1955)

A woman unhappy in her passionless marriage leaves her husband for a younger and more ardent lover.

Director:

Anatole Litvak

Writers:

Terence Rattigan (play), Terence Rattigan (screenplay)

Stars:

Vivien Leigh, Kenneth More, Eric Portman

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Vivien Leigh	...	Hester Collyer
Kenneth More	...	Freddie Page
Eric Portman	...	Miller
Emlyn Williams	...	Sir William Collyer
Moira Lister	...	Dawn Maxwell
Arthur Hill	...	Jackie Jackson
Dandy Nichols	...	Mrs. Elton
Jimmy Hanley	...	Dicer Durston
Miriam Karlin	...	Barmaid
Heather Thatcher	...	Lady Dawson
Bill Shine	...	Golfer
Brian Oulton	...	Drunk
Sidney James	...	Man outside bar
Alec McCowen	...	Ken Thompson
Gibb McLaughlin	...	Clerk

Storyline

A woman unhappy in her passionless marriage leaves her husband for a younger and more ardent lover.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | royal air force | officer | discontent | redemption | 

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Taglines:

Trapped Between Infidelity and - [The Deep Blue Sea].

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Re-made in 2011 with Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston.

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Quotes

Mrs. Elton: I wish I could understand what it was that possessed you to do a dreadful thing like that
Hester Collyer: What possessed me, Mrs Elton? The Devil, I suppose
Mrs. Elton: I should just think it was
Hester Collyer: I'm not sure I meant quite that kind of devil. But when you're between any kind of devil and the deep blue sea, the deep blue sometimes looks very inviting. It did last night
Mrs. Elton: I can't make you out. You're not a wicked woman. What you did last night was wicked and cruel. Now supposing it had been Mr Page and not you that we found lying...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Brink's Job (1978)

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Soundtracks

The Deep Blue Sea
Music by Francis Chagrin
Lyrics by Roy Bradford

User Reviews

A Leigh Staple

"The Deep Blue Sea" represents a notable staple in the film repertoire of Vivien Leigh. Given the enormous popularity and artistic achievements of this consummate British actress, it seems incredible that this film is not available on video. She is always fascinating to watch, and this drama about marital difficulties provides her with a good "modern day" role, compared to her many period/costume pieces. She is beautiful, skillful, and intelligent in her approach to and realization of her characters, and all are evident in this sensibly presented drama. Her co-star, Kenneth More, is professional as always; Eric Portman gives his usual strong character support; and the appearance of Emlyn Williams is a special bonus. The film needs to be seen on the big screen in CinemaScope to get its maximum impact. It deserves to be revived, and more importantly, made available on video.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Deep Blue Sea

Filming Locations:

Cremorne Road, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) (Western Electric Recording) Mono (optical prints) (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1