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Sons and Lovers

Name: Sons and Lovers
Genre: Drama
Released: 1960-06-23
Cast: Mary Ure, Trevor Howard, Dean Stockwell, Wendy Hiller, Heather Sears

1960 | 103 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It won an Oscar, though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Aimed squarely at people who love a good family story and anyone who wants something that moves them. Anyone with siblings or parents will recognize something here. It's about loss, handled with care rather than melodrama.
The mood: Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace: Quiet, then quietly devastating, at 1 hr 43 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1960: an older pace and style.
Not the one if you want explosions or easy laughs.

The son of a working-class British mining family has dreams of pursuing an art career, but when he strikes up an affair with an older, married woman from the town it enrages his kind but possessive mother.

How it earned its rating

CriticsSolid
67% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Cinematography – Black-and-White. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Director – Motion Picture. Also nominated for 6 more Oscars, 3 more Golden Globes and 1 BAFTA. Plus 6 other awards.
Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 21K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

Featurettes & extras

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jack Cardiff

Mary UreClara Dawes
Trevor HowardWalter Morel
Dean StockwellPaul Morel
Wendy HillerGertrude Morel
Heather SearsMiriam Leivers
William LucasWilliam Morel
Conrad PhillipsBaxter Dawes
Ernest ThesigerMr. Hadlock
Donald PleasenceMr. Pappleworth
Rosalie CrutchleyMrs. Leivers