{"id":76957,"date":"2021-10-08T19:14:41","date_gmt":"2021-10-09T02:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76957"},"modified":"2021-10-08T21:43:48","modified_gmt":"2021-10-09T04:43:48","slug":"sons-and-lovers-1960","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76957","title":{"rendered":"Sons and Lovers (1960)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want you wasting yourself instead of finding your place in the world.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster-194x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-76958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster-664x1024.png 664w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Poster.png 719w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA budding artist (Dean Stockwell) with an alcoholic father (Trevor Howard) and an emotionally manipulative mother (Wendy Hiller) rejects an offer from an elderly art patron (Ernest Thesiger) to move to London to study, instead romancing his local sweetheart (Heather Sears), then moving on to an affair with a married-but-separated suffragette (Mary Ure) at his new workplace.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Artists<\/li>\n<li>Coming-of-Age<\/li>\n<li>Dean Stockwell Films<\/li>\n<li>Donald Pleasence Films<\/li>\n<li>Sexuality<\/li>\n<li>Trevor Howard Films<\/li>\n<li>Wendy Hiller Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nCinematographer Jack Cardiff helmed this beautifully shot (by DP Freddie Francis) adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sons_and_Lovers\">D.H. Lawrence&#8217;s semi-autobiographical 1913 novel<\/a>. Unfortunately, while the location shooting in Nottingham, England is lovely: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Location.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Location.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Location.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Location-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Location-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Location-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the storyline implies a prior familiarity with the novel, given that characters are only loosely fleshed out and there is clearly much more to their situations than we&#8217;re privy to here. The morbidly unhealthy relationship between Hiller and Stockwell, for instance, hints at deep dysfunction but never goes beyond her surface comments to him: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Mother-Son.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Mother-Son.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Mother-Son.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Mother-Son-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Mother-Son-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Mother-Son-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Stockwell&#8217;s artistic aspirations are hardly given any screentime, and his rejection of Thesiger&#8217;s offer in favor of staying at home to care for his mother doesn&#8217;t make sense given all her talk about wanting him to go and make something of himself. (We can surmise that she&#8217;s actually quite happy to keep him pinned to her apron-strings, but this isn&#8217;t made sufficiently evident.) <\/p>\n<p>The same is true for the brief glimpses we see of Sears interacting with her puritanical, sex-shaming mother (Rosalie Crutchley): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Sears-Mother.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Sears-Mother.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Sears-Mother.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Sears-Mother-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Sears-Mother-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Sears-Mother-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Sears&#8217; interesting character is not given enough weight or time, with the majority of romantic scenes involving Ure instead: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Ure.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Ure.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Ure.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Ure-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Ure-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Ure-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The film&#8217;s best performance comes from Oscar-winning Howard as Stockwell&#8217;s mercurial coal-mining father &#8212; a man who takes great pride in his career, and erupts in alcoholic rage when his value and status are questioned. We can sense how infuriating it is for him to be married to Hiller, yet how deeply he relies on her for companionship and care.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-Angry.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-Angry.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-Angry.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-Angry-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-Angry-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-Angry-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Watch for Donald Pleasence in a small role as Stockwell&#8217;s new employer: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Pleasence.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Pleasence.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Pleasence.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Pleasence-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Pleasence-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Pleasence-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trevor Howard as Walter Morel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Howard-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Freddie Francis&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still2.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still2-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still2-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sons-and-Lovers-Still2-604x254.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; you can skip this one. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0054326\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4198sons.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1960\/08\/03\/archives\/screen-tepid-passionslawrences-sons-and-lovers-has-premiere.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/sons-and-lovers\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/sons-and-lovers\/review\/2030101986\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/90886\/sons-and-lovers#articles-reviews?articleId=639038\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want you wasting yourself instead of finding your place in the world.&#8221; Synopsis: A budding artist (Dean Stockwell) with an alcoholic father (Trevor Howard) and an emotionally manipulative mother (Wendy Hiller) rejects an offer from an elderly art patron (Ernest Thesiger) to move to London to study, instead romancing his local sweetheart (Heather Sears), then moving on to an affair with a married-but-separated suffragette (Mary Ure) at his new workplace. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Artists Coming-of-Age Dean&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76957\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=76957"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76989,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76957\/revisions\/76989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=76957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=76957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=76957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}