result. A prison visitor is told his curious story. He arranges for Herbert to be released and advises Betty on how to save her marriage. When Herbert goes to the common, he discovers Betty there flying a kite. The Colonel's Lady Based on "The Colonel's Lady", included in the 1947 collection of Maugham stories Creatures of Circumstance. Director: Ken Annakin Cinematographer: Reg Wyer Cast Cecil Parker as Colonel George Peregrine Nora Swinburne as Evie Peregrine Wilfrid Hyde-White as 2nd. Club Man Ernest Thesiger as Henry Dashwood Henry Edwards as Duke of Heverel Linden Travers as Daphne Felix Aylmer as Martin Plot A colonel's mousy wife writes a book of poetry under a pseudonym, but is immediately unmasked by the papers. The colonel does not read the poetry (although he says he has) and is surprised when a friend says it is "not suitable for children". Another friend says it has "naked, earthy passion", and compares it to Sappho. The book is a success and sells "like hot-cakes", becoming the talk of the town. Even the colonel's mistress has an interest in it. After listening to much talk about how "sexy" the book is, the colonel finally asks his mistress to borrow her copy, then insists she tell him about it. The book is about a middle-aged woman falling in love with, and having an affair with, a younger man, told in the first person. After a torrid affair, the younger man dies. The mistress says it is so vivid that it must be based on a real experience, but the colonel insists his wife is "too much of a lady", and that it must be fiction. Still, he is tortured by the insinuation that it could be true but is too afraid to ask his wife about it. Eventually, of course, sensing his unease, she tells him the passion was based on his love for her, as it was when they were young. She blames herself for the "death" of that love. They end in an embrace. References External links 1948 films 1948 comedy-drama films British comedy-drama films British anthology films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Ken Annakin Films directed by Arthur Crabtree Films directed by Harold French Films directed by Ralph Smart Films based on multiple works Films based on works by W. Somerset Maugham British black-and-white films 1940s English-language films 1940s British films