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Movie Discussion: Maurice: caution-spoilers

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Front-Ranger:
In one of the early scenes, the students are sitting around taking turns translating Plato's Symposium from the Greek with their professor. It's about love among men. Suddenly, the professor breaks in and says, "Pass over the unspeakable vice of the Greeks." Later while rowing on the Thames (?) they are all having a laugh over it. Greece appears several other times in the movie. I've noticed the depiction of Latin and Mediterranean countries as symbolic of a more passionate way of living fo in several Merchant/Ivory films. In another spot, the psychiatrist, played by Ben Kingsley, says, "The British have never been tolerant of human nature." (This quote is not quite right--can someone help me out?)

'Nother thing: Ben Kingsley plays the psychiatrist with an American accent--why is this?

Front-Ranger:
When we first meet Scudder, we are tempted to think of him as a slacker, and as someone who scorns the English nobility. But he is much different than that--early on we see him watching Maurice at the window, and he laughs joyfully as Maurice hangs out the window to drench himself in the rain. I then began to think of him as a naif, an innocent being who revels in the beauty and hedonism of nature.

David:
Did anybody else recognise Denholm Elliott as the Doctor?

He is more famous for playing the sidekick to Indiana Jones as Marcus Brody.   He was also the Butler in the 1980s movie "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy.

Elliott was bisexual and married.  He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 and sadly passed away in 1992.

Front-Ranger:
He was also very good as the father in A Room with A View. I didn't realize he was no longer with us! In Maurice he was the doctor but also was Maurice's father. I liked him--he didn't think Maurice had to continue at Cambridge and had some progressive views, for England anyway.

Überlibran:
I had to come here and comment because my signature is a quote from the movie! Maurice is one of my all-time favorite films, and it's nice to know there are people on the board who love it also.


--- Quote ---In another spot, the psychiatrist, played by Ben Kingsley, says, "The British have never been tolerant of human nature." (This quote is not quite right--can someone help me out?)

'Nother thing: Ben Kingsley plays the psychiatrist with an American accent--why is this?
--- End quote ---

Front Ranger- I think Maurice's psychiatrist had an American accent in the book, but no explanation was given why. I guess they just kept that for the movie.  Also, the quote you're looking for is "England has always been disinclined to accept human nature." Very interesting observation...

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