Come Into The Garden, Maud (1982)

A wealthy American businessman (Paul Scofield) is traveling through Europe with his social climbing wife (Toby Robins). An encounter with a widowed Sicilian princess (Geraldine McEwan) suddenly provides a way out of his unhappy marriage. Based on the one act play by Noel Coward (part of his SUITE IN THREE KEYS trilogy) and directed by Cedric Messina. Not Noel Coward at his finest but its brief running time makes it watchable. As great an actor as Scofield is, he doesn't come across as believable as a mid-West American and Robins as his shrewish wife comes across as a misogynistic cliche. Not her fault, it appears inherent in the source material. Since she doesn't have to play American or a harridan, McEwan's performance seems effortless compared to the two others. It's an unsubstantial piece that's dependent on the actors to put it across since the writing offers little in the way of wit or insight. With Bruce Lidington as a hotel waiter, the only other character in the play.