Quartet (1948) is a British anthology film with four segments, each based on a story by W. Somerset Maugham. Each segment is introduced by the author. It was successful enough to produce two sequels Trio (1950) and Encore (1951), and popularised the compendium film format, leading to films such as O. Henry's Full House in 1952.
The screenplays for the stories were all written by R. C. Sherriff.
The Facts of Life
Cast
Plot
Despite their reservations, Mr. and Mrs. Garnet allow their promising tennis player son, nineteen-year-old Nicky Garnet, to travel by himself to Monte Carlo to compete in a tournament. Mr. Garnet gives him some advice: never gamble, never lend money, and don't have anything to do with women. On the last night of his stay, he disregards all three: he wins a large amount of money at roulette and meets a beautiful woman named Jeanne, who borrows from him before he can react. Later, she repays him, then takes him dancing at a nightclub.
It is so late, his hotel has closed for the night. She offers to let him sleep on her sofa. Later that night, he awakens to find her stealing his winnings. He pretends to be asleep and sees her hide the money in a vase. After she leaves, he retrieves the money. The next morning, on the plane returning home, he counts his money and finds there is more than there should be. A friend suggests that Jeanne had stored her own funds in the same hiding place.
Upon his return home, his father laments to his friends that his son ignored everything he had told him and profited from it!
The Alien Corn
Cast
On his twenty-first birthday, George Bland's landed gentry father asks him what he intends to do with his life. George's answer is incomprehensible to his entire family: he wants to become a professional pianist. They try to talk him out of it, in vain. Finally, his cousin Paula (who is in love with him), comes up with a compromise. He can study in Paris for two years; at the end of that time, an impartial third party will determine whether he has it in him to reach his goal.
Paula gets Lea Markart, a world-famous pianist, to be the judge. After listening to his recital, she tells him that, while his technique is excellent, he lacks the inspiration of a true artist and would never be more than a good amateur.
George commits suicide. At the inquest, the jury unanimously declares the death an accident, since the jurors cannot conceive how music can be so important to a person.
The Kite
- Director: Arthur Crabtree
- Cinematographer: Ray Elton
Cast
Herbert Sunbury marries Betty, despite his overly involved mother's dislike for the woman. The newlyweds are happy, except for Herbert's life-long enthusiasm for flying kites. Herbert and his father had designed and flown their creations every Saturday on the commons since Herbert was a young lad. Betty considers it childish, so to appease her, Herbert reluctantly promises to give it up. However, the lure of his latest, giant, unflown kite proves too great for him. When Betty finds out, they have a fight and Herbert moves back in with his parents, much to his mother's delight.
Betty has second thoughts and tries to make up with her husband, but he refuses to go home with her. Out of anger, she destroys his new kite. Aghast, Herbert angrily refuses to give her any further financial support and is put in prison as a result.
A visitor to the jail is told his curious story. He arranges for Herbert to be released and advises Betty on how to save her marriage. When Herbert goes to the commons, he discovers Betty there flying a kite.
The Colonel's Lady
Cast
A colonel's mousy wife writes a book of poetry under a pseudonym but is immediately unmasked by the papers. The colonel does not read the poetry (although he says he has) and is surprised when a friend says it is "not suitable for children." Another friend says it has "naked, earthy passion" and compares it to Sappho. The book is a success and sells "like hot-cakes," becoming the talk of the town. Even the colonel's mistress has an interest in it.
After listening to much talk about how “sexy” the book is, the colonel finally asks his mistress to borrow her copy, then insists she tell him about it. The book is about a middle-aged woman falling in love with, and having an affair with, a younger man, told in the first person. After a torrid affair, the younger man dies. The mistress says it is so vivid that it must be based on a real experience, but the colonel insists his wife is “too much of a lady,” and that it must be fiction. Still, he is tortured by the insinuation that is could be true but is too afraid to ask his wife about it.
Eventually, of course, sensing his unease, she tells him the passion was based on his love for her, as it was when they were young. She blames herself for the “death” of that love. They end in an embrace.
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