This is the last, and the least, of three genteel adaptations of Somerset Maugham stories (see my posts: Quartet on June 7, 2016 and Trio June 11, 2020). "The Ant and the Grasshopper" was directed by Pat Jackson and written by T.E.B. Clarke; "Winter Cruise" directed by Anthony Pelissier and written by Arthur Macrae; "The Gigolo and the Gigolette" directed by Harold French and written by Eric Ambler. All three segments are competently directed and well acted, by Nigel Patrick in the first, Kay Walsh in the second and Glynis Johns in the third.
Slight changes were made from the Maugham stories, particularly in "The Gigolo and the Gigolette", where the title makes no sense, since left out is Maugham's back story of what the two leading characters did before their current high-diving stunt. Also left out, mostly, is Maugham's bite and his mordant sense of humor, from the short story of The Gigolo and the Gigolette: There was an Italian countess who was neither Italian nor a countess, but played a beautiful game of bridge.
I rather liked this anthology film, but it added little and subtracted a bit, especially the ironies of the British class system, from Maugham's stories, all three of which can be read in less time than it takes to watch the movie.
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