Sons and Lovers

The Motion Picture Production Code was still in effect (albeit weakly) when Sons and Lovers was filmed in 1960, so don't expect a thoroughly frank and faithful adaptation of the D.H. Lawrence novel. Set in an English mining town, the film focuses on Paul Morel (Dean Stockwell), the sensitive son of ...more

Hailed with excellent reviews upon its release, Sons and Lovers has lost much of its power and freshness over the years. While still a good -- at times very good -- film, it is not as startling as it was in 1960, when even the Code-approved version raised eyebrows. The film is a respectful adaptation of the D.H. Lawrence novel, but it somtimes feels too respectful; there's an air of "this is important literature" about it, which dampens its effectiveness. Jack Cardiff's direction is uneven, but ...more