Remaking a vintage film is a dangerous affair, often doomed to failure, and so it proves here. It's doubly difficult when the original film is based on a classic novel. Bill Murray, good though he is, can't fill Tyrone Power's shoes as the tormented man who doesn't want to settle down. He becomes involved in World War One, then travels to India to 'find himself'. Murray's persona makes author W Somerset Maugham's central character something of a lightweight, taking away much of its credibility. On the plus side, Theresa Russell, as the girl Murray tries to rescue from a life of sin and degradation, gives a very strong performance, as does the ever-reliable Denholm Elliott. The film also looks quite impressive, apart from the battle scenes. But it's ultimately an unsatisfying experience, poorly edited and stuffed to the gills with stilted dialogue that seems to belong to another era.

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