Interlude (1968)

A temperamental and arrogant conductor (Oskar Werner) puts everything second to his musical career including his wife (Virginia Maskell) and children. When an attractive journalist (Barbara Ferris) approaches him for an interview, she draws more out of him than he expects and they begin a tentative affair. Directed by Kevin Billington (LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD). Films about married symphony conductors/composers/pianists having affairs with pretty young things seemed to be a movie staple for awhile. The most famous example being both the Swedish (1936) and Hollywood (1939) versions of INTERMEZZO with Ingrid Bergman, WHEN TOMORROW COMES (1939) with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer, INTERLUDE (1957) with June Allyson and Rossano Brazzi and this 1968 film, not a remake of the 1957 movie despite the title. The film is rather tiresome with Ferris whining about Werner not giving the relationship the attention it needs. What did she expect? He's a married man with two kids and a heavy duty career! Werner's egoist is giving both women only half of himself and what he can spare after his career and they both deserve better. The constant soft focus montages with Werner and Ferris wandering around accompanied by Georges Delerue's underscore are tedious. Maskell as the wife is very good but alas, she died at age 31 before the film's release. With Donald Sutherland, John Cleese, Derek Jacobi, Alan Webb and Nora Swinburne.