Interlude (1968 film)

Interlude is a 1968 British drama film directed by Kevin Billington, and starring Oskar Werner, Barbara Ferris and Virginia Maskell.

The film is a loose remake of the 1957 American film Interlude directed by Douglas Sirk. It was Maskell's final film as she died in January 1968, five months before its release.

Plot
A famous male conductor gives an interview to an attractive young female reporter. He speaks a bit too frankly and ends up being given an unwanted sabbatical from conducting. He begins an affair with the young reporter during his interlude, and the accumulation of differences in their ages and background begins to mount.

Cast

 * Oskar Werner as Stefan Zelter
 * Barbara Ferris as Sally
 * Virginia Maskell as Antonia
 * Donald Sutherland as Lawrence
 * Nora Swinburne as Mary
 * Alan Webb as Andrew
 * Bernard Kay as George Selworth
 * Geraldine Sherman as Natalie Selworth
 * John Cleese as PR Man
 * Humphrey Burton as TV Director
 * Gino Melvazzi as Mario
 * Muguette De Braie as Mario's Wife
 * Robert Lang as Humphrey Turnbull
 * Roslyn De Winter as Humphrey's Secretary
 * Janet Davies as Nanny
 * Sarah Jane Stratton as Sarah Jane
 * Simon Davis as Simon
 * Steve Plytas as Frederico
 * Roselie Westwater as Hotel Receptionist
 * Gay Cameron as Andrew's Girl Friend
 * Anjula Harman as Lawrence's Pupil
 * Ernest Fleishmann as Orchestra Manager
 * Derek Jacobi as Paul
 * Richard Pescud as Ernest

Production
The film was shot at Shepperton Studios and on location around London at various places including the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, Fountain Court in Temple, Chelsea, and the Royal Festival Hall. The Zelter family home was shot at Binfield Manor in Berkshire, and Bodiam Castle and The Mermaid Inn, Rye in East Sussex were used for filming. The film's sets were designed by art director Tony Woollard.

Singer Timi Yuro performed the title song "Interlude". Another version by Yuro was released commercially. The song was covered in 1994 as duet by Morrissey and Siouxsie Sioux.

Reception
Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic described Interlude as "sententious, and drippy,".