Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4171 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-19
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 111 minutes

Synopsis
After 12 years of marriage, British couple Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney find themselves wondering whether they should continue forward through life together or go their separate ways. Bickering and bliss get equal time as husband and wife remember the past in its sunny and stormy times, and this perceptive tale of the struggle to create and maintain a fulfilling marriage rings true in nearly every scene.
Seven years earlier, director Stanley Donen explored the stress fractures in marriage with Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, and Robert Mitchum in the marvellously keen dramatic comedy THE GRASS IS GREENER, and Donen returned to the subject again in the early 1980s in BLAME IT ON RIO with less empathy and more nudity. TWO FOR THE ROAD, however, has always been the most popular of this trio of films about marriage on the rocks, as Hepburn and Finney give winning performances of partners who love each other but aren't sure they're in love anymore. Screenwriter and novelist Frederic Raphael's sparkling screenplay gives the movie zest and poignancy. Hepburn's wardrobe was designed by Mary Quant and Paco Rabanne, while Sir Hardy Amies dressed Albert Finney.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Transfer/Appalling Transfer.
As Amazon list these reviews with all versions of the film for sale and as most of the reviewers of this film refer to the poor quality of the DVD transfer I just wanted to point out they are referring to the Optimum -region 2- version. The 20th Century Fox -region 1- version is a very high quality transfer in the correct ratio, the DVD also has an excellent commentary track from director Stanley Donen.

If you can't play region 1 DVDs on your player it's a tough call because although a great film, Hepburn's best ever performance in my opinion, the Optimum region 2 DVD is a disgrace. Maybe it's time to get yourself a region free player.

My 5 star rating is for the Fox region 1 version it would be 1 star for the Optimum region 2 version.

A little dated, but plenty of style.......
Let me firstly say, I agree with the previous reviewers in that the film is fantastic, the dvd is average. More care could have gone into its release, but better its released than not.

This is indeed a 'forgotten' classic; Hepburn and Finney are perfect as the couple who's lives we see over the same journey taken over several years from their initial meeting to later years. Its both funny, and achingly sad at times. The score is also beautiful, and perfect. Audrey Hepburn looks stunning, as does the gorgeous French scenery. The way the film is cut is also very clever, with scenes from different eras overlapping.

Its a wonderful film, and although firmly of the 1960's (with great Paco Rabanne, Mary Quant fashions)the theme of love and relationships is universal.

Wonderful Film, Appalling Transfer
Wonderful Movie, Appalling Transfer


'Two For The Road' is a great little piece of hi-style, brittle sixties film-making. Frederic Raphael's screenplay is jewelled with all his trademark incisiveness and wit, the leads are attractive, and Ms Hepburn is gorgeous in a succession of outfits by Quant, Rabanne, et al.

Unfortunately, the pleasure I was expecting from seeing it again was ruined by the extremely poor quality of the conversion to DVD. A very average print covered in specks and scratches has been further degraded by a transfer which looks as if someone got hold of an old video and filmed it straight from a TV screen. It's blurry, muddy, muffled and all but unwatchable, like one of those low-grade freebies you sometimes get with the Sunday `papers. What is the point of taking a film with such visual delights and doing such a below-average job with it?

I've seen the film occasionally on TV, and know that age is not responsible for this. Another little-known Hepburn movie, 'Paris when It Sizzles', looks on its DVD release as if it were filmed yesterday.

The producers of this edition clearly want us to think they care about the movie. There are informative sleeve notes and a look of quality about the packaging. But the film itself is utterly spoiled.

No marks either for the 'Stills Gallery', which is in fact seven small snapshots.

Altogether, very disappointing.