A Severed Head

This stylish sophisticated high comedy on sexual desire and the nature of love is highly recommended. Witty and charming, it boasts an outstanding cast of actors. Not your regular cup of tea, these three couples not only manage to swap mates a number of times between them; but manage to do it with such flair that you cannot help but enjoy the ride along the way.

It may not be everyone's taste, but if you are looking for something more than a run of the mill romantic comedy; this is for you. In some ways, it could be considered a version of "Bridget Jones Diaries" for people who have actually read Jane Austen and not just seen the adaptations. Murdoch was a powerhouse in her time, and this shows you why.

British humor for a movie that more than a comedy assimilates to a tragedy.

Strange alliances and betrayals are mixed within a group of people in which no one speaks openly about their feelings but hides behind a semblance of civilization.

I had to watch this film recently and expected to see HORROR film. A SEVERED HEAD!? h-e-l-l-o? Only to find out this is a comedy... I THINK? Very dry, very British. The confusing title would be explained at the end of the film as the character Honor quotes:

"Go back to reality Martin,... I am an object of terrible fascination to you, A Severed Head such as primitive tribes used putting a morsel of gold on it's tongue to make it utter prophecies, as real people you and i do not exist for one and other."

I know, huh? I didn't get the correlation either. Seeing there are only 3 user comments (at the time of this review) I feel bad for so many films like this. So many thousands of films that took so long to make and so many actors gave great performances only to fall into the abyss of obscurity. Worth watching though if only for Lee Remick who is absolutely stunning and quite a skilled dead pan comic.

One of my favorite movies ever, largely due to the fact that Iris Murdoch is my favorite author of all time. I saw this as a fairly young child, and it stuck in my head for years. Two of the best actresses ever, Claire Bloom and Lee Remick. Claire was perfect as Honor, like a tightly wound spring. The relationship between Honor and her brother is pure Iris Murdoch, whose characters always had complicated and sometimes quite twisted relationships. Very funny movie, as well, as is also typical of Ms. Murdoch's works.

I would highly recommend this movie to young adult audiences who like alternative and artistic, literary movies.

This is a mystery not a comedy.How can the film makers make such a mess of anything written by Irish Murdoch and J.B.Priestley.If that wasn't bad enough to lumber it with such a dreadful title.No wonder the distributors put this on the shelf for a couple of years.Shameful waste of all the talent involved.No doubt Blooms top less scene was included to boost the box office.