A Separate Peace

1972
PG
1h 44m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Two roomates at a prep school in New England during World War II come to grips with the war, jealousy and betrayal. Based on a novel by John Knowles.Two roomates at a prep school in New England during World War II come to grips with the war, jealousy and betrayal. Based on a novel by John Knowles.Two roomates at a prep school in New England during World War II come to grips with the war, jealousy and betrayal. Based on a novel by John Knowles.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

522

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The scene where the boys all suddenly start singing "Hitler has only got one ball" was unscripted. Director Larry Peerce continued filming to see how it played out, with the scene ending up in the final cut.

Quotes
Leper: Did you come here to abuse me?

Connections
Referenced in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Star Trek V/No Holds Barred/Dead Poets Society/Let's Get Lost/Renegades (1989)

User reviews38

Featured review

tepid film version of a landmark young adult novel

The novel A SEPARATE PEACE is one of the benchmarks of American adolescent literature, second only to CATCHER IN THE RYE in terms of an accurate portrayal of 20th century young adult angst. The novel is a complex, ambivalent portrayal of friendship between two dissimalar friends at a stuffy New England boys' school during the opening years of WWII. The film version captures to a great extent the feel of the era and the New England setting, yet fails to really convey the conflicted feelings of Gene, the narrator in the book. The all-important scene in the tree is rendered in a murky manner; one not famililar with the book would be confused as to what had happened. And the confrontation scene in Phinney's house is poorly staged and interpreted. It's interesting to note that, with the exception of Parker Stevenson, none of these actors seem to have made good in their respective careers. Begs for a quality remake.