Her Head in Films

James Ivory's 'Maurice' (1987)


Listen Later

In this episode, I talk about James Ivory's 1987 film, "Maurice." It's based on the novel of the same name by E.M. Forster. It's set in 1910 and tells the story of Maurice Hall, a young man who attends Cambridge University and falls in love with Clive Durham. The film follows them over several years, tracing the turmoil of their relationship. Clive eventually marries, and Maurice finds love with Alec Scudder, a man who works on Clive's estate. Made and released in the 1980s, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, "Maurice" is a film that celebrates and affirms queer love. It features brilliant performances by James Wilby, Hugh Grant, and Rupert Graves, who all were deeply committed to their roles. For this episode, I talk about E.M. Forster, Merchant Ivory Productions, the filming of "Maurice," and I explain why this dreamy and romantic film continues to enchant me.

Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon.

Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.

Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan

Full Show Notes:

Her Head in Films Episodes mentioned:

  • Desert Hearts
  • Wanda
  • Call Me By Your Name
  • Blue is the Warmest Color
  • Writers, other films, etc mentioned:

    • [Sylvia Plath] 12
    • [Information about Humanism] 13
    • Regeneration film
    • Richard Robbins's soundtrack for "Maurice"
    • Angels in America
    • The Normal Heart
    • Pose
    • All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
    • Nanette
    • The Miseducation of Cameron Post
    • Sources cited:

      • Kate Symondson for the British Library
      • Eric Banks, "Why Novelize a Novelist" for The New Yorker
      • Fariha Róisín, "The Three-Headed Magic of Merchant Ivory" for Hazlitt
      • Merchant Ivory Productions Wikipedia Page
      • E.M. Forster Wikipedia Page
      • Guy Lodge "Maurice at 30: the gay period drama the world wasn't ready for" on The Guardian
      • Gary Goldstein, "James Ivory and James Wilby look back at the making of 'Maurice,' a time when gay happy endings were rare"
      • Darren Scott for The Independent
      • ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        Her Head in FilmsBy Caitlin

        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7

        4.7

        70 ratings


        More shows like Her Head in Films

        View all
        Chapo Trap House by Chapo Trap House

        Chapo Trap House

        8,861 Listeners

        Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso by Higher Ground

        Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

        1,463 Listeners

        Blank Check with Griffin & David by Blank Check Productions

        Blank Check with Griffin & David

        6,184 Listeners

        The Adam Friedland Show by The Adam Friedland Show

        The Adam Friedland Show

        10,556 Listeners

        Pod Save America by Crooked Media

        Pod Save America

        87,577 Listeners

        What a Picture by Hannah and Bryan Loomis

        What a Picture

        11 Listeners