Rent Trio (1950)
3.7 of 5 from 51 ratings
1h 28min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
1950 collection of three vignettes from short stories written by W. Somerset Maugham and introduced on screen by the writer himself. 'The Verger' follows the fortunes of Albert Foreman (James Hayter) a man of the cloth at St. Neville's whose position is terminated when it emerges that he is illiterate. Forced to change his life, he rejects reading and writing lessons and instead opens a tobacconist shop. He then becomes something of an unlikely business tycoon. In 'Mister Know All' we're introduced to Max Kelada (Nigel Patrick) the type of bigmouth everyone loves to hate. A Jeweler to trade, he goes on a cruise where his inability to keep quiet leads him into an awkward situation. When he identifies the necklace of a fellow passenger's wife as authentic and almost reveals a secret affair. His ability to finally keep his face shut earns him a newfound respect. Finally, 'Sanitorium' is set in a TB ward in the Scottish countryside. New patient Ashenden (Roland Culver) checks in and begins immediately to observe the lives of the other patients. A touching romance between resident patients Major Templeton (Michael Rennie) captivates his imagination while the incessant bickering between elderly residents McLeod (Finlay Currie) and Campbell (John Laurie) provides comic relief. - Actors:
- James Hayter, Kathleen Harrison, Felix Aylmer, Lana Morris, Michael Hordern, Glyn Houston, Eliot Makeham, Henry Edwards, Anne Crawford, Nigel Patrick, Naunton Wayne, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Clive Morton, Bill Travers, Dennis Harkin, Michael Medwin, Jean Simmons, Michael Rennie, Roland Culver, Raymond Huntley
- Directors:
- Ken Annakin, Harold French
- Producers:
- Antony Darnborough
- Writers:
- Noel Langley, W. Somerset Maugham, R.C. Sherriff
- Others:
- Cyril Crowhurst
- Aka:
- Trio: The Verger / Mr. Knowall / Sanatorium
- Studio:
- Network
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Cinema Afloat: Part 2, Getting to Know..., Glynis & Angela: Ninetysomething Marvels, Introducing a British Film Family, A Brief History of Film...
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Reviews (1) of Trio
Nothing Beats Three - Trio review by CH
Three very different Maugham stories, each with a twist neatly done, and all excellently characterised. The longest is Sanatorium in which an ailing Ashenden visits the eponymous establishment - somewhere in remote Scotland - and finds himself amidst people who have elected to stay on even though they appear the picture of health (after a fashion). Amongst the yoinger residents/patients are Michael Rennie and Jean Simmons whose walk in the woods becomes, for some, the stuff of scandal. Much recommended, all three, as a way to round off an evening.
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