Leave All Fair

This 1985 film spins off Katherine Mansfield's request to her husband John Middleton Murry, to burn "as much as possible" of her letters and writing after her death. Three decades later Murry (Sir John Gielgud) is still haunted by Mansfield, as he works on a collection of her work. Brit Jane Birkin plays both Mansfield, and a Kiwi expat who reminds Murry of his ex lover. Initially charmed, she grows annoyed at Murry's narrow-minded view of Mansfield. John Reid took over directing two weeks before shooting began in France. Variety rated the Pacific Films drama nuanced and intelligent. 

Lushly photographed, the film is as gentle and nuanced as Mansfield’s own writings, and the scenes between Gielgud and Birkin play with subtlety and insight … This is a refreshing, intelligent film… It’s a class act all the way.

– Variety's review of the film, 22 May 1985

Key Cast & Crew

John Gielgud

As: John Middleton Murry

John Reid

Director, Writer

John O'Shea

Producer

Jean Betts

Writer

Stanley Harper

Writer

Maurice Pons

Writer