"Term of Trial" is a rather grim drama about an alcoholic English teacher (Olivier) who is falsely accused of fondling one of his students (Sarah Miles). Miles is lovely and arresting in her first film role.
Olivier, despite his drunkenness, is the most decent character in the film. His french wife (Simone Signoret) constantly belittles him and his lack of money. Terence Stamp, in this early role as "Mitchell" plays a sullen "angry young boy" who has no respect for his teacher or society in general.
It is not a 'fun' film to watch. The sole of nobility, Olivier truly loves his wife, and offers to help the Miles' character, giving her private tutoring at no cost, simply because he sees such potential in her.
Olivier does a fine job as the idealistic drunk. His character is further stigmatized by his being a pacifist during World War II, a fact which is brought up rather unkindly by his disillusioned wife.
This is a rainy, gritty England. A subplot about a young student whose mother has a young, violent boyfriend only adds to the ugliness.
The ending only adds another shade of black to the darkness. His wife, tired of her husband's fine principles, decides to leave him. He can only regain her respect by lying to her and telling her that he did have a relationship with the young Miles. The wife is now intrigued by her husband and decides to stay with him.
Olivier is hard to watch as the suffering teacher. This is almost "The Blue Angel" in post-war Britain--Olivier's teacher character is every bit as degraded as Emil Janning's professor.
The film is a downer, like Burton and Taylor's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Not pleasant to watch but you do appreciate its artistry.
Olivier, despite his drunkenness, is the most decent character in the film. His french wife (Simone Signoret) constantly belittles him and his lack of money. Terence Stamp, in this early role as "Mitchell" plays a sullen "angry young boy" who has no respect for his teacher or society in general.
It is not a 'fun' film to watch. The sole of nobility, Olivier truly loves his wife, and offers to help the Miles' character, giving her private tutoring at no cost, simply because he sees such potential in her.
Olivier does a fine job as the idealistic drunk. His character is further stigmatized by his being a pacifist during World War II, a fact which is brought up rather unkindly by his disillusioned wife.
This is a rainy, gritty England. A subplot about a young student whose mother has a young, violent boyfriend only adds to the ugliness.
The ending only adds another shade of black to the darkness. His wife, tired of her husband's fine principles, decides to leave him. He can only regain her respect by lying to her and telling her that he did have a relationship with the young Miles. The wife is now intrigued by her husband and decides to stay with him.
Olivier is hard to watch as the suffering teacher. This is almost "The Blue Angel" in post-war Britain--Olivier's teacher character is every bit as degraded as Emil Janning's professor.
The film is a downer, like Burton and Taylor's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Not pleasant to watch but you do appreciate its artistry.