Unfaithful is a 2002 American drama film directed by Adrian Lyne. It was adapted by Alvin Sargent and William Broyles Jr. from the French language film La Femme infidèle by Claude Chabrol. The film is about Constance (Diane Lane) and Edward (Richard Gere), a couple living in the New York City suburbs whose marriage goes dangerously awry when she indulges in an adulterous fling with Paul (Olivier Martinez), a mysterious book dealer.
The filming proved to be challenging for the actors who had to endure smoke being piped in during scenes for 18 to 20 hours a day. During the film's demanding sex scenes, Lyne would film repeated takes often using up a magazine of film at at time. While Diane Lane had no problem with being nude for these scenes, Olivier Martinez was not comfortable with being naked on-camera. The two actors had not met each other before filming and did not get to know each during which mirrored the relationship between their characters.
Based on his experiences with Fatal Attraction, Lyne shot five different endings. The studio did not like his original ending which did not pass moral judgment on the characters and imposed their own ending which angered Richard Gere who fought for Lyne's version.
Unfaithful grossed USD $52 million in North America and a total of $119 million worldwide. It also received largely mixed to negative reviews with Lane receiving widespread praise for her performance. She would go on to win the National Society of Film Critics, the New York Film Critics Circle awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actress.
The Unfaithful is a 1947 film noir based (though not credited) on the W. Somerset Maugham penned 1940 Bette Davis movie, The Letter. The film was directed by Vincent Sherman, who also directed the 1947 Ann Sheridan movie Nora Prentiss.
Chris Hunter kills an intruder and tells her husband and lawyer it was an act of self-defense. It's later revealed that he was actually her lover and she had posed for an incriminating statue he created. Written by Daniel Bubbeo
Connie Sumner has a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a wonderful son, but she wants more. When she's approached one day by a handsome stranger while trying to hail a taxi, she becomes obsessed with him and eventually starts an affair. But her selfish actions soon catch up with her... Written by Jango
