Encore

This remarkable work consists of three of Somerset Maugham’s short stories, along with screenplays for cinematic versions that made up the 1951 British film Encore. The effort is the third in a series, the other two being Quartet (from 1948) and Trio (from 1950). The featured stories of Encore are The Ant and the Grasshopper, Winter Cruise, and Gigolo and Gigolette. Like all of Maugham’s stories, these are well worth reading, and available in any of the several collections of his works.

What makes this small volume special are the parallel screenplays, along with listings of the cast and characters from the 1951 movie. Further, as a special treat, Somerset Maugham provides a verbal commentary on each of the stories (although as show more noted in Waldstein’s review, one is shortened in the film version). That Maugham’s stories could lend themselves so well to an essentially visual medium is a testament to the strength of the author’s characterization and plots. However, the screenwriters deserve high praise for so skillfully turning these stories into screenplays. I consider both The Ant and the Grasshopper and Winter Cruise to be amusing and entertaining stories, and both are very well rendered in the film version. Gigolo and Gigolette, while far from one of my favorite stories, loses some of its power in its translation to film; however, I must admit that the scene of “Stella’s” diving performance is well done. Regarding all three of these works, I can do little more than echo the LT review by my friend Waldstein, and advise readers to see his assessment.

Overall, I found this book an entertaining way to enjoy Maugham’s literary creations, and plan to seek out its predecessors Quartet and Trio. show less