Although this movie is very simple, it's incredibly poignant, about a stuffy and unlikeable teacher at a school for boys who is declining in health and also coming to the realisation about how unpopular he actually is amoungst his class, his staff members and his wife. Added to which, his younger wife's infidelity is rubbed in his face throughout his last few days at his post which leaves him bitter and hopeless. Michael Redgrave is marvellous as Professor Crocker-Harris and Nigel Patrick is suitably grim and smarmy as the Professor's wife's lover and fellow school-master. Rattigan is a fascinating playwright who seems to be able to create a pile of characters that you really care about almost at once.
PS The title of the film refers to the copy of a book of verse which Professor Crocker-Harris is given by a pupil towards the end of the film, Robert Browning's version of 'Agamemnon'.
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