lyon5

Of all the crummy movies I've seen, this poor man's version of 'Brief Encounter' would have to be one of the worst. It's even worse than the Richard Burton/Sophia Loren version of 'Brief Encounter' and that was an abomination. Although 'Roses' was pretty to look at, it had no substance whatsover and the main characters - Ann Jillian and Lee Horsley - were an unconvincing pair of dills.

This 3-part production is the most perfect thing I've ever seen on television - the writing, acting, direction, locations, costumes, etc are faultless. Episode two, where Lady Slane learns that Mr Fitzgeorge fell in love with her when they were young, but never revealed his love, is a triumph, and reduces me to tears every time I watch it. Why this series isn't available on commercial release is a mystery, because they just don't get any better than this.

This is largely an unremarkable little film, with mostly wooden performances typical of the time in which it was made, but it does show how easy it is for a man to take the wrong turning through no fault of his own, when circumstances beyond his control provide no other option.