its emotionally piercing view of marriage and in the beguiling presence of Audrey Hepburn. There will unlikely be an actress with more style or grace on screen, and never has she seemed more sexy, playful or innately human. It's a shame she never played a role as rich in texture as Frederic Raphael's script provides here. His dialogue is sharp and insightful, as he has the main characters often repeat one another for the sake of getting a different meaning from the same line of dialogue.As Joanna and Mark Wallace, Hepburn and Albert Finney get to live out more than a decade in their characters' lives from initial meeting to near-divorce. What makes the evolution more impressive is that the story is not a linear narrative but rather a series of five road trips that volley the viewer back and forth in the relationship. Finney provides a formidable match for Hepburn, and he plays with the right mix of roguish insouciance and insecure ambition that doesn't make his character always likable but certainly believable. Their chemistry is palpable, especially in the early days of their courtship as the movie makes hitchhiking the most romantic of adventures with the couple cutting through the entirety of France in various vehicles in record time. Only in the movies. The episode with the pretentious American tourist couple and their bratty daughter provides some biting and funny moments...ironically, the actress portraying the wife, Eleanor Bron, is British. Not surprising that this movie was not such a huge hit stateside since the four Americans in the movie are portrayed in such an unflattering light.Regardless, credit needs to go to director Stanley Donen himself an American , who somehow pulls all these disparate elements together and uses his extensive Hollywood experience to bring a nice glossy sheen to the whole film. His third collaboration with Hepburn after "Funny Face" and "Charade" really turns into a tribute to her as she makes a remarkable transformation from naïve choirgirl to jaded jet-set housewife that goes well beyond the changing hairstyles and clothing. This is one to treasure.This wondrous film has been lovingly restored for its much-delayed DVD release. The print quality has been significantly improved over the VHS tape I've had for over a decade. A nice bonus feature is a split-screen before-and-after short that shows the visual improvement. Best of all, there is finally an audio commentary track to accompany the film, and Donen provides illuminating insight on the elliptical narrative structure and the non-chronological juxtaposition of the scenes. He explains that the characters are reliving their memories by association with the feelings they are having in the present. His adoration of Hepburn is pervasive and understandable, as he claims rightfully that this was her best performance they worked together three times . I just wish Finney was available to add his perspective. Moreover, if you ever wondered why the young Jacqueline Bisset's voice doesn't sound like her at all, he admits she was re-dubbed by another actress due to the blaring noise of generators during the location shooting. She apparently had already moved on to shoot her first Hollywood film. For those like me who adore this film, the DVD is a must-buy.

wife, trying to save the 12-year marriage, while Albert is the overworking, bad tempered husband. The movie takes you through their three trips, the first when their love affair began, the second when she is pregnant with their first child, and the third when their marriage is beginning to fail. Their love is displayed wonderfully, and anyone can see that Hepburn and Finney were in love in real life, too. The music is beautiful, I love how it's played all throughout the movie. I think that it's one of the best parts of the whole movie, but there wasn't a moment when I wasn't completely wrapped up in what was going on. This is a classic, and I can't believe I'd never heard of it before I accidently picked it up at the video store. Anyone who is married or who's looking for some laughs should definitely watch this movie, it's a must-see.

beautifully by Albert Finney reflect on the good times and the bad times of their twelve-year marriage.This film is must see because it goes beyond the happy ending and into actually imitating life where marriage is not always perfect. where marriage has fights and arguments and sometimes infidelity and hurt but love usually conquers all.must see.

balancing the pathos of their life, and the viewer coming away with perhaps some universal truths of what it means to be connected. Audry Hepburn is class personified and Finney, in a word, a hunk!!!

playing her character's different selves without resorting to age-related stereotyping. She's such a subtle actress sometimes that you almost don't realize what she's doing until after the fact. And still, she has the misfortune of being Audrey Hepburn - people expect that from her even when she's trying something else. The whole thing was amazing to watch because you think you're going to be disoriented by the time shifts, but you aren't. Director Donen has weaved together a multi-phasic tale with such skill that you can't help but be impressed.This movie 1967 is at the tail end of the traditional Hollywood romance era and the beginning of the experimental 70s. It's a wonderful example of both.

The lead and supporting acting, directing, location selections, production design, soundtrack, and writing are commendable and make the film breeze by, but again, by removing faith from the absorbing drama of the downfall of the lead's marriage this results in a film that is as a Variety film critic describes an "attempt to visually analyze the bits and pieces that go into making a marriage, and then making it work, is successful" but not excellent.

that in the end they will end up together. With this film it's unclear what the ending will be and that makes for a much more fun ride along the way.You can tell from the very opening scene that the two leads despise each other, but then in the next segment they hadn't met. For me at first it was a bit jarring not knowing this film was going to take a different approach. It's told in the non linear and jumps around every 10 minutes or so. It's a very effective approach but there were times where I thought it was choppy. For this time of filmmaking it must have been extremely experimental doing a movie this way.There are times where Finney and Hepburn are unlikeable but even then it's hard not to root for this couple to somehow resolve their long term marriage. It seems that in order to have a successful marriage you have to be willing to make some big sacrifices and ultimately that's what it comes down to. I really liked the scenes in the middle of their relationship where you can start to see the flaws, but at the same time you realize the young love that is blossoming. By the way can Audrey Hepburn be any more beautiful? She is around 40 years old in this movie and looks better than ever. It must be that long hair look...Not only is it a fun film to watch but it's a realistic one. It may not be a true story but it seems to depict a real marriage give many glimpses at how people deal with each other for several years, and in the end if they can resolve or destroy their marriage.8.7/10

made twenty years later, we may have seen Joanna progress to a life without Mark and perhaps claim her own identity separate from his. The only movie contemporary to "Two for the Road" that deals realistically with a woman being trapped in a marriage with a cheating spouse is "The Happy Ending" with Audrey's contemporary, the underrated Jean Simmons. I think that "Two for the Road" kind of craps out at the very end by simply devolving into a madcap Swinging 60s frolic, as we see the characters kiss and make up and ride off into their high-end Euro trash sunset.

Mark meet on the road while vacationing in France. Fate intervenes when all the girls in the choir where Joanna is traveling with come down with measles. Since she wants to enjoy her vacation, she chooses to go along with Mark. That trip involves a delicious sequence in which both Joanna and Mark are seen riding in different vehicles as they hitchhike throughout France to the Mediterranean.The film is a series of flashbacks that point out to hilarious times on the road, as they vacation in France, and twelve years later when they, as a couple, seem to have failed miserably in spite of the fun times they always cherished. The death of their young daughter weighs heavily on both, something that begins to pull them apart. As a couple, they appear to have taken each other for granted because of the pain caused by their terrible loss.One of the trips offers a hysterical trip Joanna and Mark took with Howard and Cathie Manchester and their small bratty daughter, Ruthie. Cathie had been involved with Mark, but now is the prim and proper wife of the fastidious Howard, a man that has no initiative and must account up to the last penny of their expenses. Needless to say, they prove to be too much for Joanna and Mark.Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney show an easy chemistry in all their scenes. Ms. Hepburn looks radiant, as usual. Mr. Finney, the dashing young English actor is also effective in the complex role of Mark. William Daniels and Eleonor Bron are perfect as the Manchesters. The young and gorgeous Jacqueline Bisset has a small part in the picture. Also at hand Claude Dauphin, Nadia Gray, and Georges Descrieres, contributed to the success of the movie."Two for the Road" offers one of the most effective music scores Henry Mancini ever wrote. His music fits perfectly with the action. This is a perfect example of how Mr. Mancini made everything look so easy with his compositions.