Maurice

film by Ivory [1987]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The film Maurice (1987) is an adaptation of E.M. Forster's posthumously published novel of the same name. The story centers on Maurice Hall, a student at the University of Cambridge, who grapples with his homosexuality and rejects bourgeois values. He finds self-awareness and resolves class conflicts by pursuing a relationship with Alec Scudder, a gamekeeper.12

The film was produced by the renowned Merchant Ivory team, known for their adaptations of classic literature. James Ivory directed, and the screenplay was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who frequently collaborated with the duo. The film explores themes of identity, class, and forbidden love in early 20th-century England.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Merchant and Ivory
…followed by three Forster adaptations—Maurice (1987), A Room with a View (1986), and Howards End (1992)—all of which won awards. For the latter two films, Ivory received Academy Award nominations for best director, and both were nominated for best picture. By the time The Remains of the Day was…
Read More
…followed by three Forster adaptations—Maurice (1987), A Room with a View (1986), and Howards End (1992)—all of which won awards. For the latter two films, Ivory received Academy Award nominations for best director, and both were nominated for best picture. By the time The Remains of the Day was…
Read More

Hugh Grant
Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill
…the James Ivory–Ismail Merchant film Maurice (1987), for which he won a best actor award at the Venice Film Festival. It was his charming performance as a British bachelor in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), however, that brought him to the attention of the general public; he won a…
Read More
…the James Ivory–Ismail Merchant film Maurice (1987), for which he won a best actor award at the Venice Film Festival. It was his charming performance as a British bachelor in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), however, that brought him to the attention of the general public; he won a…
Read More