Rent Two for the Road (1967)

3.4 of 5 from 127 ratings
1h 46min
Rent Two for the Road Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
One of the great films by Stanley Donen after the studio era had come to a close, 'Two for the Road' was a break-off with the old system, one which allowed Donen to further stretch his art, aided by screenwriter Frederic Raphael (Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, John Schlesinger's Darling), in this tale of a couple voluntarily stretching themselves through the long period of their relationship.
Portrayed in fragments that span the couple's time together in marriage, 'Two for the Road' runs the course of a relationship (between Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney) that finds a circumstantial come-together escalate into newlywed-status and, through a series of travails, into the serious situation of bearing a daughter. The disturbance of marriage, and/or life, is chronicled from here on.
Actors:
, , , , Gabrielle Middleton, , , Georges Descrières, , , , Dominique Joos
Directors:
Producers:
Stanley Donen
Writers:
Frederic Raphael
Studio:
Optimum
Genres:
Action & Adventure, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: Day For Night, Award Winners, Cinema Paradiso's 2024 Centenary Club: Part 1, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Audrey Hepburn, inema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, A Brief History of Film..., Top 100 AFI Passions, Top Films
BBFC:
Release Date:
19/07/2004
Run Time:
106 minutes
Languages:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Notes on Two for the Road by Rachel Moseley
  • Stills Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailer
BBFC:
Release Date:
19/01/2015
Run Time:
111 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • Feature-length audio commentary with director Stanley Donen
  • Video interview with screenwriter Frederic Raphael
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

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Reviews (2) of Two for the Road

cars and scenery - Two for the Road review by tezza

Spoiler Alert
16/07/2019

beautiful technicolor irritating couple's relationship over 10 years or so, nice old cars, some comedy, Finney particularly irritating

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Relationship shuffle. - Two for the Road review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
25/10/2023

Funny, flashy relationship drama set in a gorgeous touristic France, which plays out over 12 years. A young, attractive couple meet on the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry, fall in love and marry, then have a daughter, while drifting inexorably apart. This is staged over five driving holidays. Episodes from these are shuffled together so the scenes move freely between each trip.

So experiences from different times of life are contrasted to comical or wistful effect. The dialogue which starts as flirtatious develops an edge. They acquire more money but have less fun. Their passion gets run down. And they have affairs. It's an old sad story.

Albert Finney as the husband is inscrutable, but Audrey Hepburn as his wife is hugely sympathetic and charming. The ostentatious, modernist style which once made it chic is now dated, but it has acquired enormous nostalgic appeal, including the cars and Audrey wears groovy Carnaby Street fashions. And the tourist sites are blissfully uncrowded.

The film ends with a romantic crisis, but it doesn't exhume their disappointments to much depth. Part of the problem is Finney doesn't give the impression he has much to lose. This is a light, entertaining film which is more comical than tragic. There is stylish direction, a clever script and Henry Mancini's lovely easy listening score applies plenty of surface gloss.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

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