This tale of two sisters sees starchy devoted wife Madeleine (Williams) fighting to keep her husband from the arty clutches of her free spirit of a sister.

Dinah (Bonham Carter) is everything Madeleine is not - a carefree, artistic siren who collects negro sculpture and reads Trotsky.

Madeleine runs her London household by upper middle class rules with society soirees and everyone knowing everyone else's place.

Caught in the middle is Rickie (Bettany), loyal husband to Madeleine but harbouring a yet unsatisfied attraction to her sister.

When Dinah announces her engagement to the chinless Charles it is Rickie who pops his head round her door and tells her not to go through with it.

Inevitably, Dinah and Rickie are soon enjoying stolen afternoons at her bohemian garret...until she discovers she is pregnant.

Rather than risk a scandal, Dinah suggests she head off to the south coast with her confidante Bridie to have the "golden child" there.

However, a train of events ensures things don't turn out as the two lovers had planned.

In keeping with the dictates of pre-war society, this is pretty dry and uptight stuff for a searing love story ignited by pent-up passion.

Williams maintains an icy formality pretty much all the way through, only faltering when she first hears of her husband's betrayal.

Bonham Carter just does her normal, slightly irritating wacky waif while Bettany brings some sympathy to the chap caught in the emotional crossfire.

The biggest failing is the complete lack of any humour whatsover, with even the lamest attempt at a gag to enliven proceedings going off half-cocked.

You don't find yourself really caring for any of the characters while their cold manners freeze out an fledgling feelings of the heart.

Tim Evans