I may be alone in this, but....

Initially, yes, Maurice & Scudder seemed only to come together because of lust... whereas, Maurice and Clive had an intellectual connection. The vast differences in Maurice & Scudder's class and educational levels were a big chasm. However, I felt that by the end of the film their lust was turning to love...

Maybe the chemistry wasn't clear but of course Maurice will always love Clive no matter what but often people find comfort in other person's arms. It became clear that the boy was always there for him because he wants him. It took him a long time to get Maurice's attention, though. Maurice wasn't sure what to do with his splitting heart because he didnt get a clear confirmation from Clive.

Clive was almost too perfect for him. They have the same intellectual level, same interests in everything, same background. I can imagine that the relationship can become really awkward because you have so much in common! It's like dating your best friend or brother. Friendship was far too valuable for them to risk something like that and lose it.

TForster42 replied beautifully to this, I echo his/her comments. I somehow JUST saw this yesterday at a friend's house. I do not understand how I overlooked it all these years of looking at Gay themed movies. Anyway, I wanted to add that a friend had an extra features disk and all the actors said that the director would never tell the actor what to do. If he didn't like a particular take, he would say simply "do (whatever it was) another way." And the actor would have to think of another way to portray the scene or individual action. He apparently wanted whatever essence of the character to come FROM the actors themselves.

So now with the above background in mind - I'm asking your question again - was there love between Maurice and Scudder? I think so, or Scudder wouldn't have said "we shan't be parted ever again." Both men had been through a lot, (see below) and men ran the show in those days. If sex was what they wanted, that wasn't difficult to get. So yes, definitely to be such rebels, there was love. Last and MOST importantly perhaps, Scudder gave up his career in Argentina for no guarantee of anything with Maurice. He was young and sexy; finding a partner for just sex would be no issue for him. ABSOLUTELY YES he loved Maurice to do that.


But what bothered me is the kiss and the WAY that Scudder said that was so rough. Perhaps it was uncommon for men to show emotion and the class difference entered in but for Maurice at least, he had been through such an ordeal with Clive's on again/off again waffling, denying his love etc. and both men saw various people go to prison; weighing what they could lose due to societal nonconformity other than and in addition to prison - I thought their reunification (in private after all) at the boathouse would have (and should have) been a bit more tender. (not to mention, Scudder almost went to Argentina - incredibly stressful mentally I would think)

Actually, it may seem like that on a cursory viewing. I think there is more passion between Scudder and Maurice than ever was between Maurice and Clive. Maurice and Clive were school friends, who experimented as many do. It could not have meant as much to Clive or he never would have given Maurice up. By the time Maurice meets Scudder, he is older, established, and knows only a man will ever make him happy. He is bowled over by the attention of the energetic, younger man. Scudder expects this to last forever, and says as much. Clive made no such promise. Gay people hate to recognize this but I think Clive is simply bisexual. If you doubt they exist check out the personals on Craigslist of men looking for men: most are married men looking for a "discrete" good time--code for married. Clive did marry a boyish woman: heavy eyebrows, low forehead, boyish figure. She is also the type who won't look too closely at things or rock the boat. But then, neither will Clive. Clive will never cheat on her; appearances are everything to him, and his status and possessions mean more than anyONE ever could. It is easy to be attracted to people who are like us and share our tastes, upbringing, and status. It's even seductive. That's why a lot of the upper-class boys experimented with each other sexually while in school--it's just so easy and comfortable. The attraction and subsequent relationship between people of different backgrounds is more challenging, more exciting, maybe even more dangerous, but never boring. They will keep teaching each other. I am sure that Scudder and Maurice found a way to make it work AND stay clear of the law.

Oh, I definitely felt the love between them. The relationship was so strange at the beginning, that the revelation, I think, was a whirlwind to both of them.

Alec was attracted to Maurice right away. He said that, as soon as he first saw him, he thought, that's the one for him. He approached Maurice first, probably guessing that the man of higher class couldn't or wouldn't make the first move. Of course Maurice surrendered to him right away. After seeing that young hotness climbing through your window, could you deny him?

The next morning, during their talk in bed (how hot was the arm-pinning!), I think Maurice was already starting to have feelings. He wanted Alec to stay, to talk, for them to get to know each other. When he asked him about a friend to have his whole life... how touching! That he could never open up to anyone about his feelings, was very telling. I think he already wanted Alec to be that 'one person'.

When Alec came up to London to confront Maurice, I think it was really because his feelings were hurt. After their night, and the note he wrote, Maurice didn't even contact him. He was so sad, and seemed so young and inexperienced, coming up on the train in his best suit! After they cleared up the misunderstanding, all he wanted was to 'give over talking', and for Maurice to stop and spend the night with him. The next morning, Maurice didn't want to let him go. At this point, I think he already was in love with Alec. He tried to talk him into staying in England, and said they could find a way. I think maybe Alec was afraid to be rejected again, maybe?

At any rate, their last scene in the boathouse just screamed "love" to me. "Now we shan't never be parted", seems like an extreme declaration of love to me. And the look of tenderness that Maurice gives him! Sigh!

I have to disagree (resoectfully) with the starter of this thread. Alec and Maurice's relationship BEGAN with lust, but it morphed into love after a series of misunderstandings. This, by the way, is still how most gay relationships begin.

You don't get this as much in the movie, but in the book, Maurice at first can't find Alec, and he briefly wobbles on the brink of despair just before he actually finds him. The way Wilby plays the part, he lunges for Alec and grabs him like he'll never let go. At that moment, Maurice is being assaulted by a whole range of feelings... relief, gratitude, lust, and most importantly, love.

It's interesting to imagine what their night in the boathouse would have been like, but I don't think we can be too graphic in this forum. As I consider it, Maurice was probably tired and hungry. Alec is intelligent and practical, and I feel he would have thought to have some food on hand. Since it was apparently a warm evening (the fireplace was only in the movie, not the book), maybe they went for a dip in the river sans clothes. After that, I doubt they slept much, but probably had to slip away at dawn before many people were around to see them.

It's a different kind of love. For one, Scudder was in love with Maurice at first sight (he says as much in the hotel scene) and tried several times to impress this upon the endearingly oblivious Maurice.

1. wishing Maurice a happy birthday (a bit odd for a servant to do that)
2. waiting for Maurice at the door before he left for the first Lasker-Jones appointment, refusing his tip, and taking special care of his suitcase
3. expressing how sorry he was if he had not provided full satisfaction and how glad he was that Maurice had returned to Pendersleigh so soon (when Maurice had returned from the first Lasker-Jones appointment)
4. walking with Maurice in the 'I hear you're emigrating' scene, then retracing his steps back after saying good night (he sought a conversation with Maurice)

Until finally Scudder ran out of time/patience and went for broke with the window routine. :)

Maurice slowly comes around when he sees Alec for being the beautiful honest loving creature that he is (better explained in the book). You also have to consider that in 1913, a gay man's prospects of finding another gay man 'in the wild' was incredibly low (as Maurice says "It's a chance in a thousand we met.").

Also, I know of long term relationships , straight and gay, that started out like that...usually high school sweethearts sorta thing. Heck, I even acted as match-maker for a few of them when it wasn't obvious enough to one side or the other. "Do you fancy so-and-so?" "Well, yes." "Well then, you'll be happy to know they think the same of you. You should talk with them, go on a date maybe?"

I couldn't agree with the OP more. I was quite disappointed with the ending of this movie because of that very reason. Not so much that I wanted Maurice to end up with Clive, but because his relationship with Scudder just fell so flat, I couldn't buy it. It seemed like both his relationships were extremes: his relationship with Clive was purely emotional/intellectual, and his relationship with Alec was purely sexual. I honestly kept waiting for a third person to be introduced who would present a happy medium between physical and emotional intimacy, rather than one or the other.

As it is, Alec and Maurice's relationship was just built on lust, so them living happily ever after together when the only thing they have in common is homosexuality was just jarring. I agreed with what Roger Ebert said in his review of the movie:

Apart from their sexuality, they have nothing of substance to talk about with each other in this movie... There comes a time when people need to simply talk to one another, to coexist as companions, and I doubt if that time could ever come between Maurice and Scudder.

By arguing that their decision to stay together was a good and courageous thing, "Maurice" seems to argue that the most important thing about them was their homosexuality. Perhaps in the dangerous atmosphere of homophobia in the England of 75 years ago, that might have seemed the case. But this film has been made in 1987 and shares the same limited insight.

Found myself nodding my head and saying "damn right" while I was reading it.

Peter, is your social worker in that horse?