Almost shockingly, many of the reviewers here have voiced stories almost eerily similar to my own. I happened upon this movie one late night approx. 38 years ago, and simply NEVER forgot it. Around 10 years ago or so, I searched for and found a VHS tape of it, and a couple of years ago, I got a DVD of it online. This is, simply, one of my very most favorite movies ever. I wanted to note that, as of this morning at any rate, the ENTIRE film is available for streaming on you tube.I don't wish to repeat the same specific comments voiced by others, but would like to focus on one particular aspect of the film; its patient and tender depiction of the "falling in love" process itself. The lazy and impatient manner through which most modern films depict how people fall in love strains credibility, and poses a real challenge to the viewer's ability to care about the supposedly deeply intense love relationship between the characters. How often do we see two characters "lock eyes" for a few extra moments upon meeting, and voilà, they are committed to a passionate and lifelong love relationship; ready to die for each other? All too often is my answer. In this film, you believe it. Their need for each other, though for perhaps somewhat different reasons, is palpable and honest. Today, "love stories" focus so much more on how characters REMAIN in love, or how they overcome hurdles to their love, and hardly bother to take on the challenge of making the audience believe that they ever fell in love in the first place, which is, for me, far more interesting (and apparently, far more difficult to depict believably).I think of the modern films noted for their love story narratives, like "The Fault in Our Stars". Of course the two protagonists fell in love. They're both impossibly attractive, they share this common enemy (cancer), and they're both incredibly clever and lovable. Even though their love was not expressed mutually until near the end, really they were in love (again) almost from the first moment they laid eyes on each other. Far more interesting would have been a story where she and the kid who eventually lost his eyesight fell in love, and the events leading up to that. But, again, that would have been likewise far more challenging to the author / screenwriter.But, no such problem with this film. They took on this difficult challenge and succeeded in an extremely satisfying way.

Oliver Reed, and Rita Tushingham were both outstanding in this film. I found it both a touching and thrilling movie. It's amazing what a wooden bowl and wooden utensils can do to a story line, one of my favorite all time movies by these two great British actors ! The location, and scenery was beautiful. It's hard to say more about this movie without spoiling it. there are so many unworthy movies replayed on T.V. these days, This is a movie I could watch over and over again. Filmed in the troubling times of the 1960's,it takes you to a time in our past that was although harder, but a much simpler way of life!I have been trying to find this movie on D.V.D., if anyone knows where I can get a copy please let me know.

Here's what I learned at 10 years old from "The Trap", watched on VHS TV almost once a year (subsequent experience with fathers and men confirmed it all): If you're female, you're screwed. The world is indeed a trap, and your emotional life--not to even mention your physical life--will be a living hell of emptiness. Unless he rapes you--then you better recognize a good thing, girl, and crawl back to him! Good men are hard to find! I watched this film later as a more reasonable adult to see if I'd just been in a bad mood all those years before. I didn't see a more comforting message at all, save perhaps this small caveat: Ladies, you are more powerful than you may seem, and he is LITERALLY nothing without you. If life provides you with any kind of a choice, then choose wisely.Performances are powerful as stated before, but Rita Tushington's the real prize here, in every way. Her look of betrayed hopelessness should be patented as a solvent--it'd strip paint. He's just a schmuck with a fragile ego--a violent house of cards ready to be fled at the first opportunity. As such, Reed's adequate.Okay, so maybe I'm bitter. But I believe some things should NOT be shown to children , and this is one of those films. Over half the world's population's hearts will break, and after all these years, I still don't know which half I'm in.

It's been at least 30 years ago, when I saw this movie for the first time. Every 4-5 years or so it was repeated on German TV, never on Dutch TV or in the theater :-( All of that time I've been searching for it, until my daughter said, why don't you try Google? Why couldn't I think of that myself (LOL) I just love the story, the way of living in those days, although it was harsh, en the end of the movie (I'm a sucker for happy endings) And of course Oliver Reed :-) Now that I found the movie, I can look if I can get it on DVD, or videotape, so I can play it whenever I feel like it.With love, Nanny (Netherlands)