Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Preamble
I'm a sucker for passionate, period pieces. I had seen the 1999 version and loved it. When I saw this advertised as a boxed set, I added it to my list and surprisingly, received it as a gift for Christmas 2000.

The End of The Affair - Just The Facts
These movies were based off the book by Graham Greene . I've not read the book (it is on my list) although I have heard that the book is an autobiographical account of Greene's affair with a married woman. My experiences with novels that are made into movies are either that they don't follow the book and are wildly successful, or they follow the book and are boring as hell.

Plot Disclaimer
I really, really hate movie reviews that reveal a lot of stuff. With that said, mine will reveal a lot. It's the only way that I can intelligently discuss why my heart and soul responded so strongly to these films.
You knowing the plot will not spoil this movie for you. If you believe that it will, just skip over this section of my review.

The Plot
The story line is basically the same for the two films. Set in a wartorn London in 1946, Maurice Bendrix (Van Johnson, Ralph Fiennes) is invited to the home of civil servant Henry Miles (Peter Cushing, Stephen Rea) so that he may begin his research on his next book. Maurice is writing about the life of a civil servant and wishes to see Henry in his environment.

During the party, Maurice is introduced to Henry's wife Sarah (Deborah Kerr, Julianne Moore). The heat is barely contained between these two strangers as they try to pretend to be casual acquaintances.

Henry, believing that Maurice needs more information for his book, offers up Sarah's assistance for any research that might be needed. This gives Maurice and Sarah the opportunity to begin an illicit affair behind Henry's back.

Maurice is so consumed by Sarah that every waking moment is filled with passion, desire, love, and jealousy. Although he knows that Sarah's marriage to Henry is in name only, he cannot stand the fact that Sarah belongs to Henry and not him.

After a bomb has hit and damaged Maurice's dwelling, Sarah is afraid that he has died. Although Sarah has struggled all of her life with her belief (or lack thereof) in God, she prays and begs God to save Maurice's life. If he does, she will promise to sacrifice their relationship just so that he can live.

Maurice appears alive and Sarah realizes that she must keep her promise to God. Instead of explaining this to Maurice, she breaks off from him. Maurice leaves the city to try and rid himself of his love, desire, and pain for Sarah.

Upon his return, Maurice runs into Henry, walking the London streets, very late at night. Unsettled, Henry discloses to Maurice that he thinks that Sarah is having an affair. Even though Maurice believes he is over Sarah, it is obvious that his jealousy and his obsession of her flames back into full throttle at the mere mention of her name.

Determined to fight his feelings for Sarah, he decides to turn the tables and assist Henry in finding out who Sarah is having an affair with. While he's back in town, he might as well make her life hell.

Maurice's feelings for Sarah are rekindled the first time he sees her. Ever more obsessed than ever, Maurice is determined to fight his way back into her life. Throughout the rest of the film, he straddles a thin line between absolute love and bitter hate. The desire and passion in him runneth over.

Things are not as they seem for the three main characters. Throughout the rest of the film, all three struggle with ethical issues around love, trust, faith, and hope.

The 1999 Version - Stand Out Features
WOW!!!. I'm not sure if I have seen this much chemistry in one film. Usually, I would just highlight the chemistry between the two lovers - Maurice and Sarah. And let me mention that :). Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore are like interlocking pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. It feels awkward when they aren't together, pawing each other.

The most intriguing chemistry however, was between the three of them (Stephen Rea, Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore). Together or just paired off with each other, you could feel the love, admiration, and conflict that these three people felt towards each other.

Ralph Fiennes and his brother Joseph have always lit my fire. Besides being incredibly hot and gorgeous, his acting sends chills up and down my spine. He was perfect for this role - a disenchanted, embittered, but obsessed intellectual. Nothing turns me on more than a guy like this!

Julianne Moore is the kind of chick I'd like to hang out with. With the exception of her performance in Boogie Nights, I have to say this tops every thing else she has done.

The music was a very strong fourth character in this movie. The classical string instrumentation was beautifully arranged with just the right amount of emphasis on the drama. At times, I wanted to cry, cringe, kill myself :), and scream. Any music that makes you feel all of these emotions, must be good!

Neil Jordan who I believe to be a most excellent writer and director, really made this an outstanding film. Remakes are usually crap. I mean, who wants to see something they've seen before. What he did was breathe life into an interesting film by exploiting more of the relationship factor.

1955 Version - Stand Out Features
I know, some of you will slap me when I tell you that this the first time that I have seen a movie with either Deborah Kerr or Van Johnson in it.

Understanding that 44 years early, sex was off limits in movies, I felt like that sort of limited what chemistry could occur with these two characters. It did take me longer to warm up to them but the payoff of their relationship came in the second half of the movie. It was when that faith of believing their love and passion for each other really paid off for me.

Deborah Kerr is amazing. You trying playing a housewife from the 40's involved in an illicit love affair. She pulled it off with class.

So you say to yourself, if I've seen the 1999 version and I liked it, why would I want to have the 1955 version?

One of the things that moved me tremendously in the 1955 version was the examination of Sarah's beliefs and her struggles with God and faith. As some one who has been there and still doing that, I felt the same pain that I watched on the big screen. Sarah makes a promise in the heat of a moment and instead of blindly believing that God has answered her prayers, she becomes bitter and more stubborn about all of the uncertainty around her. Watching that play out in this version of the film made me feel like the movies were almost two different movies.

Extras of the DVD's
On the 1999 Version you get the following:
* Audio commentary by Neil Jordan and Julianne Moore.
* The Making of Featurette
* Theatrical Trailers
* Filmography of Stars
* Wide screen or full screen
* Subtitles in more than 10 different languages

On the 1955 Version you get the following:
* The Making of Featurette
* Filmography of the Stars
* Subtitles in five different languages


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age