The Passionate Friends (1949): cast, story & where to watch
1949 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1949, The Passionate Friends is a drama and romance film directed by David Lean, running about 90 minutes. “Their affair took on a life of its own.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A woman is torn between the love of her life, who is married to someone else, and her older husband.
Who’s in it. The Passionate Friends stars Ann Todd as Mary Justin, Claude Rains as Howard Justin, Trevor Howard as Prof. Steven Stratton and Betty Ann Davies as Joan Layton, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, The Passionate Friends has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Passionate Friends page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Passionate Friends tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Passionate Friends (1949)?
- In US, The Passionate Friends is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Passionate Friends worth watching?
- The Passionate Friends holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Passionate Friends?
- The Passionate Friends stars Ann Todd, Claude Rains, Trevor Howard, Betty Ann Davies and Isabel Dean.