John Schlesinger followed up his critical and financial success, "Midnight Cowboy" (1969) with this story of a love triangle between three human beings of differing sexual identities and orientations. An older male doctor is in love with a young hippie artist man. This same hippie is the object of affection of a female divorcee of around 35 - 40 years old. This leads to various reactions as the young hippie spends his time with either one, whoever suits his egocentric fancy. This is definitely a great snapshot of how relationships and their dynamics functioned for these individuals in the post Swinging London, post 60's revolution of early 1970's when some people realized that the dreams of the previous decade didn't come to fruition and it was all over. The acting is quite magnificent from Peter Finch as the older gay doctor and Glenda Jackson as the woman. But from Murray Head as the young hippy, you don't get the charisma necessary to reveal why this young man is so passionately the object of two people's affection. This was a controversial film for its time because it featured with all seriousness and respect two men passionately kissing on screen. It is interesting to note that these two actors are actually straight in real life.
At one point in the film the young children of the sister of Glenda Jackson's character who she and the hippie are babysitting for the weekend are seen smoking marijuana. This is a dangerous allusion to the mindset of some post-60's former flower children's allowances as far as child-rearing goes. It is dangerous that a film would condone such an image because we all know how vulnerable children's minds are at that age when they are still developing and growing.
The script is by film critic Penelope Gilliat. It is does not draw attention to itself which is a compliment. It is smoothly written and interesting.
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