Private Lives (1976)

Two newly married couples are honeymooning in Deauville, France and unbeknownst to each other are staying at the same hotel. Amanda (Penelope Keith) and Victor (Donald Pickering) and Elyot (Alec McCowen) and Sybil (Polly Adams). What makes it all uncomfortable is that Amanda and Elyot were once married to each other. Based on the play by Noel Coward and directed by John Gorrie. One of Coward's most popular plays, it's constantly being revived in London's West End as well as Broadway as well as TV and film adaptations. Casting is crucial to the success of the production. A high comedy of manners isn't easy to pull off and you need actors with charisma and presence, comedic timing and lots of charm because all four of the protagonists are essentially unappealing upper class twits. Alas, the two leads are unsuited for the roles. Alec McCowen (TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT) is absolutely sexless. He's a character actor in a part that requires a leading man. Penelope Keith is rather frumpy in a role that requires, if not a beauty, an actress dripping with charisma. Keith might have gotten away with it on stage but the camera is cruel and reveals a dowdy actress glammed up. So what we're left with are four actors spouting Coward's clever dialog but the lines fall flat. With Francoise Pascal.