Overrated

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The End of the Affair is a film directed by Edward Dmytryk.It stars Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, Peter Cushing and John Mills. It is based on the novel The End of the Affair by Graham Greene.Maurice Bendrix is the clandestine lover of married Briton Sarah Miles. When Maurice disappears during the London blitz, Sarah feels responsible. She thought that if she hadn't been cheating on her husband Henry, Maurice might never have been placed in harm's way. She gets down on her knees and prays, promising to return to her husband and give him up Maurice if her lover's life is spared. The movie is definitely dated by today's standards as it told routine love story wherein everything is clichéd,formulaic and predictable.The performances of the cast saved this from being an average film even during the time it was released.Aside from that,the theme that Greene is trying to convey about morality and his belief in a demanding Catholicism that is not worried about pleasing anyone but God makes this film's message applicable even by today's time.

I found this to be a very interesting film on several levels.First, Deborah Kerr is wonderful, as she almost always was. What a consummate actress. But, once again, Van Johnson surprises me. Only recently have I begun to realize what an underrated actor he was. I think most of us think of him in musical comedies, but he could be a very good dramatic actor, as well.Second, the characters here are very real. And not necessarily likable. Johnson comes across in the most unflattering light...the other man...who knows the affair is wrong, but who cannot resist it. Kerr comes off a little better...at least part of the time...but other times she comes off as the woman who seems almost indifferent to the fact that she is having an affair. We get to see Peter Cushing before he turned to horror flicks...as the wronged husband, and a very good performance. And John Mills has a curiously small (yet key) role as a private investigator...and a very nice performance, if a bit oddball.Highly recommended in addition to the more recent version.

The Hays Moral Code specifically stated "Adultery and illicit sex, sometimes necessary plot material, must not be explicitly treated or justified, or presented attractively." Still in effect at that time, this is certainly the most explicit treatment of the subject of adultery during the time of the code's strict enforcement from 1935-1955. ("Baby Doll" released in December, 1956 goes a bit further).While the movie should gets points for its explicit and adult treatment of the subject matter, the film does explicitly preach Catholicism which may be the reason that the theme was allowed. In the 1950's and early 1960's there was a Catholic anthology drama series on U.S. television which often dealt with serious issues like adultery, communism, abusive families, racism, incest, rape and abortion; issues that were almost never raised on television at the time. The show was apparently given a pass because it always ended with one character realizing the issues of his/her ways and having their soul redeemed by joining or rejoining the Catholic Church. This movie reminded me of that show.The movie does have terrific performances by Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, and Peter Cushing. It should be watched just for the performances. They underplay their roles beautifully and hit emotional high points in just the scenes that need them.Graham Greene is an excellent writer and knows how to keep a plot moving and constantly surprises the audience.One can dismiss this movie as Catholic Propaganda, but the movie is touching, thoughtful and well done. The Catholic Propaganda only mars it slightly, a small price to pay for the pleasure it brings. It is a good affair between two handsome/beautiful people, even if it ends with a bit of repentance and feelings of guilt.

Imagine me saying that a Van Johnson, Deborah Kerr film was awful. It's true folks. This was one miserable film.In war ravaged England the two of them begin an affair only for Ms. Kerr to end it in thanks to the Lord when Maurice (Johnson) survives a bombing.The two of them engage in absolute endless talk. The film falls into a discussion regarding the lord and all other kinds of philosophy. Kerr gives an emotionally restrained performance in her usual sing-song diction.As Sarah in this film, there is no great chemical reaction between her and Maurice.As her suffering husband, an English civil servant, Peter Cushing is adequate but the dialogue is ridiculous.John Mills is real dead pan as an investigator.When a husband hires a detective to investigate a cheating wife, that can be believed. When a former lover does this, you have to wonder.Am wondering if Van Johnson was using this film as a pre-test to the much better "Miracle in the Rain" which occurred the following year. Two deaths coming during rainstorms is more than quite incidental.