A Question of Infidelity (1958) User Reviews

Kynaston Reeves has the last line

[howardmorley · 6/10 · 14 July 2017]

A bit talky, this film examines whether artificial insemination can be legally construed as adultery.Anthony Steel is married to American Julie London and due to his upbringing always becomes insanely jealous if another man approaches and talks to his wife.A racing car driver by profession, he is driving a Jaguar "D" type in a Spanish race when he starts kicking off with another jealous rage.Julie is driving them home when a Spanish peasant leads his donkey out into the road in front of them both.Inevitably a crash occurs and Anthony Steel's character becomes impotent.They decide to cement their marriage by going to Switzerland to a clinic which provides artificial insemination and which is run by good old Dr.Cameron (Andrew Cruckshank) of Dr.Finlays Casebook fame .The misunderstanding arises when Anton Diffring, (for once playing a "goody" and not a rabid Nazi), helps Julie recover from a skiing accident.Anthony Steel goes into a jealous rage when he realises perforce they have spent the night together in Anton's mountain chalet (because of a mountain storm).Basil Sydney, playing Anthony Steel's father never liked Julie as his son's wife and tries to part the couple by convincing his son to sue his wife for adultery with Anton.

It was good to see Frank Thring playing his usual ominous role here of prosecuting counsel as in the same year (1958), he had played the sadistic Saxon king in "The Vikings".In conclusion I wondered why a simple blood test on Anton Diffring's character would have proved whether or not he could have been the natural father of Julie's baby which we never see because it has not been born in the film.However we do get to hear Julie's soft voice singing in a night club scene.Kynaston Reeves I remember from the 1950s Children's' BBC TV playing Quwelch from "Billy Bunter".Yes a bit talky but I rated it 6/10.

A question of entertainment

[JohnHowardReid · 5/10 · 4 November 2012]

Producer Raymond Stross and director Don Chaffey are clearly out to capture the exploitation market here. They create a big fuss by asking if artificial insemination is a basis for divorce on the grounds of adultery, and then blithely sidestep an answer! As for the acting, good old Anthony Steel is as wooden as usual, while Julie London and Anton Diffring are wasted in indifferent roles. Fortunately, always reliable Donald Houston, Frank Thring and Anton Diffring show us a good time with their legal arguments. But who got the mad idea of casting Conrad Phillips as a Spaniard? A crummy actor at best, Phillips makes a laughable fist of this inept role.

Too bad you can't divorce in-laws.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 31 May 2023]

A definite nominee for one of the worst father-in-laws in movie history is Basil Sydney, determined to sabotage son Anthony Steel's marriage to Julie London no matter what it takes, even using the car accident that makes his son sterile. She has already taken steps to be artificially inseminated, but Sydney wants to prove that London was unfaithful with Donald Huston. This leads to an ugly divorce case, and the long-suffering London must prove both her love and fidelity to her husband and convince him that he can love the child as his own if he really wants to keep their marriage together.

With very little doubt, I'm sure that this is one of the first mainstream movies to utilize artificial insemination as a major plot device (not sure off hands of exploitation films that dealt with this), and it's a fascinating adult drama that manages to seem realistic while dealing with a controversial plot device. Sydney is quite the piece of work, subtle in his venom but definitely determined to take London down, and he makes a terrific heavy. The beautiful London gets to sing and wins the audience over with her sincerity. A pretty daring drama considering its release year that doesn't shirk in using scientific terms, stopping short of using the phrase sperm bank.

Archaic nonsense

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 16 July 2018]

One can only assume that at the time of this film the question of artificial insemination was a burning issue.However the idea that this would constitute adultery. is utter rubbish.If that were not enough we have to accept the laughable conception that Julie London would be attracted by Anthony Steel.Andrew Cruickshank who plays the doctor would shortly find fame in Dr Finlayson casebook on tv

Controversial and Important Film

[jromanbaker · 9/10 · 9 February 2021]

Don Chaffey, the director, had prior to this film made 'The Flesh is Weak' a rather timid approach to Prostitution in the UK. Given the conservatism of English cinema in the 1950's this was a sensational film on a subject (as far as I know) not previously aired in the claustrophobic climate of the time, despite the fact that foreign films on the subject were shown, usually cut, in the UK. 'A Question of Adultery' approached the equally controversial subject of artificial insemination, again a taboo subject, along with prostitution and homosexuality. I watched the film, of which I am fortunate to have a copy, to further my own questioning on the subject of sexuality in all its forms after WW2, a supposed turning point in British 'morals'. As usual, I found understanding of human sexuality wanting. This film does not endorse its subject, and the ending is cautious, but despite this it was a film condemned, especially in religious quarters. 'X' certificated and cut in the UK, it fast disappeared into oblivion, and still lingers there. Why has it not been brought out on DVD when it is actually a well acted and a very watchable film? Julie London is in love with her over jealous husband who controls her every move, suspecting possible adultery every time she comes into friendly contact with another man. Anthony Steel is excellent in his role as the husband and he in turn is controlled by a father equally obsessed by his son. Caught in this trap, Julie London plays a rare character in British film of that period; a woman who is faithful but feels free to claim her own rights as a human being. London, with her husky voice and forceful presence, is superb to watch, navigating herself through rough waters to have a child, despite her husband's arguable mental cruelty, and his inability to conceive a child with her due to a car accident. This leads to her decision (with her husband agreeing reluctantly) to turn to a clinic in Switzerland offering artificial insemination. Caught in a snowstorm, a man played well by Anton Diffring gives her shelter. End of spoilers; it all ends up in court with her accused of adultery. The film tries to be as adult as possible and given the quality of the acting, good direction and treating a troubled issue of the era, it deserved more respect, and still does. London, Steel, Diffring and a brief appearance of Donald Houston in a small, but major role also deserve recognition for creating well-rounded characters and I hope, late in the day though it is, that the film surfaces again to be evaluated with a long overdue DVD.