The billing for "Edwin" is a drama. The promotion and publicity about it is all about a retired British judge, his long-time neighbor and friend, his wife, and their son. Edwin is never in the picture (we see the back of his head when he comes to visit his mother). And the substance of the movie is the judge's speculation over who might be the real father of Edwin.
But for a garden scene and a stroll by the three characters, one can see this as a perfect stage play. It can be a drama, of course. But it is much more than that. It's a sophisticated comedy with some very clever exchanges between the characters. And, I saw something in this film early on that the promoters didn't tout but that is quite obvious. The judge was so wedded to his work that it was all that mattered to him in life. So much so that he took his wife for granted. Then, and since his retirement we see that he is a very self-centered person. Now the stuffy pride has an ally.
For instance, he didn't even know that his son, Edwin, had come to visit them a number of times, but he had paid no attention or was away on a pleasure trip with his friend. I think the implication that his wife makes might be a red herring, or just for speculation to see what the judge would do with it. I didn't see it as the answer to his apparent angst after all these years about the true paternity of his son. It anything it might have been a way for the lady to get a little justice from her husband's own neglect of her over the years. Otherwise, I think she would not have been a "liberated" woman or one for whom freedom would include committing adultery. I say that because her character here is a strong person, and one who would easily be able to bear down on her husband if she felt too neglected.
So, this wonderful little film has some very good acting by its three sole performers. Alec Guinness is the retired judge, Sir Fennimore Truscott. Renee Asherson is his wife, Lady Margaret Truscott. And Paul Rogers is their friend and long-time neighbor, Thomas Marjoriebanks.
This is really a film with much tongue-in-cheek. It's not one of lots of laughs. Fen and Thomas spar nicely with little barbs here and there. And Lady Margaret goes about her garden and kitchen chores, with occasional inserts to stir the brew. The only real reason there is any question at all about Edwin's paternity, is because a retired judge has too much time on his hands and doesn't aspire to find customary ways of retirement to fill the time. It's all quite fun, but perhaps not the type of comedy that will appeal to everyone.
But for a garden scene and a stroll by the three characters, one can see this as a perfect stage play. It can be a drama, of course. But it is much more than that. It's a sophisticated comedy with some very clever exchanges between the characters. And, I saw something in this film early on that the promoters didn't tout but that is quite obvious. The judge was so wedded to his work that it was all that mattered to him in life. So much so that he took his wife for granted. Then, and since his retirement we see that he is a very self-centered person. Now the stuffy pride has an ally.
For instance, he didn't even know that his son, Edwin, had come to visit them a number of times, but he had paid no attention or was away on a pleasure trip with his friend. I think the implication that his wife makes might be a red herring, or just for speculation to see what the judge would do with it. I didn't see it as the answer to his apparent angst after all these years about the true paternity of his son. It anything it might have been a way for the lady to get a little justice from her husband's own neglect of her over the years. Otherwise, I think she would not have been a "liberated" woman or one for whom freedom would include committing adultery. I say that because her character here is a strong person, and one who would easily be able to bear down on her husband if she felt too neglected.
So, this wonderful little film has some very good acting by its three sole performers. Alec Guinness is the retired judge, Sir Fennimore Truscott. Renee Asherson is his wife, Lady Margaret Truscott. And Paul Rogers is their friend and long-time neighbor, Thomas Marjoriebanks.
This is really a film with much tongue-in-cheek. It's not one of lots of laughs. Fen and Thomas spar nicely with little barbs here and there. And Lady Margaret goes about her garden and kitchen chores, with occasional inserts to stir the brew. The only real reason there is any question at all about Edwin's paternity, is because a retired judge has too much time on his hands and doesn't aspire to find customary ways of retirement to fill the time. It's all quite fun, but perhaps not the type of comedy that will appeal to everyone.