The playwright, novelist and short-story writer W. Somerset Maugham, was a prolific author from the late 19th century until the 1960s. Most of his earliest successes were for the theatre, but he gave up writing plays after 1932. Many of his plays have been adapted for broadcasting and the cinema, as have several of his novels and short stories. The New York Times commented in 1964, "There are times when one thinks that British television and radio would have to shut up shop if there were not an apparently inexhaustible supply of stories by Maugham to turn into 30-minute plays. One recalls, too, the long list of movies that have been made from his novels − Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, The Painted Veil, The Razor's Edge and the rest."Quoted in Curtis and Whitehead, p. 448
Plays TitleTypeActsPremiere(West End except where noted)Initial runRefSchiffbruchig (Marriages are Made in Heaven) romantic comedy 1 1902, Berlin 8Mander and Mitchenson, p. 17 Mademoiselle Zampa farce 1 1904 20Mander and Mitchenson, p. 19 A Man of Honour drama 4 1904 28Mander and Mitchenson, p. 22 Lady Frederick comedy 3 1907 422Mander and Mitchenson, p. 27 The Explorer drama 4 1908 48Mander and Mitchenson, p. 48 Mrs Dot light comedy 3 1908 272Mander and Mitchenson, p. 53 Jack Straw comedy 3 1908 321Mander and Mitchenson, p. 59 Penelope comedy 3 1909 246Mander and Mitchenson, p. 60 The Noble Spaniard farce 3 1909 55Mander and Mitchenson, p. 66 Smith comedy 4 1909 168Mander and Mitchenson, p. 71 The Tenth Man tragic comedy 3 1910 65Mander and Mitchenson, p. 74 Grace drama 4 1910 72Mander and Mitchenson, p. 94 Loaves and Fishes satire 4 1911 48Mander and Mitchenson, p. 100 The Perfect Gentleman comedy 1 1913 8Mander and Mitchenson, p. 105 The Land of Promise romantic drama 4 1913 76Mander and Mitchenson, p. 114 Caroline light comedy 3 1916 141Mander and Mitchenson, p. 123 Our Betters comedy 3 1917, New York1923, West End 112548Mander and Mitchenson, p.143 Love In a Cottage drama 4 1918 127Mander and Mitchenson, p. 147 Caesar's Wife romantic drama 3 1919 241Mander and Mitchenson, p. 152 Home and Beauty farce 3 1919 235Mander and Mitchenson, p. 159 The Unknown drama 3 1920 77Mander and Mitchenson, p. 163 The Circle comedy 3 1921 181Mander and Mitchenson, p. 167 East of Suez drama 7 scenes 1922 209Mander and Mitchenson, p. 191 The Camel's Back farce 3 1924 76Mander and Mitchenson, p. 195 The Road Uphill drama 3 1924 play, unproduced The Constant Wife comedy 3 1926, New York 295Mander and Mitchenson, p. 199 The Letter drama 3 1927 338Mander and Mitchenson, p. 205 The Sacred Flame drama 3 1929 209Mander and Mitchenson, p. 210 The Breadwinner comedy 3 1930 158Mander and Mitchenson, p. 216 For Services Rendered drama 3 1933 78Mander and Mitchenson, p. 220 The Mask and the Face satire 3 1933, Boston and New York 40Mander and Mitchenson, p.241 Sheppey comedy 3 1933 83Mander and Mitchenson, p.245
Film adaptations Cinema and television versions of Maugham plays, novels and short stories include: The Explorer (1915), directed by George Melford. Based on the play of the same name. The Land of Promise (1917), directed by Joseph Kaufman and starring Thomas Meighan and David van Eyck. Based on the play of the same name."W. Somerset Maugham", British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2022 Smith (1917), directed by Maurice Elvey. Based on the play of the same name. The Divorcée (1919), directed by Herbert Blaché. Based on the play Lady Frederick. Jack Straw (1920), directed by William C. deMille. Based on the play of the same name. East of Suez (1925), directed by Raoul Walsh. Based on the seven-act play of the same name. The Circle (1925), directed by Frank Borzage. Based on the play of the same name. Infatuation (1925), directed by Irving Cummings. Based on Caesar's Wife. The Canadian (1926), directed by William Beaudine. Based on the play The Land of Promise, this was a remake of the 1917 film of that name, with Thomas Meighan reprising his role as Frank Taylor. The Magician (1926). Based on the novel of the same name. Sadie Thompson (1928), a silent movie starring Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore. Based on the short story "Miss Thompson", which was later retitled "Rain". The Letter (1929), featuring Jeanne Eagels, O.P. Heggie, Reginald Owen and Herbert Marshall. Based on the play of the same name. Charming Sinners (1929), featuring Ruth Chatterton, Clive Brook, Mary Nolan and William Powell. Based on the play The Constant Wife. Strictly Unconventional (1930), directed by David Burton. Based on The Circle.Mander and Mitchenson, p. 162 Rain (1932), with Joan Crawford and Walter Huston. The first sound version of the short story "Miss Thompson" (later retitled "Rain"). The Narrow Corner (1933), starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and directed by Alfred E. Green. Based on the novel of the same name. Our Betters (1933), directed by George Cukor. Based on the play of the same name. Of Human Bondage (1934), starring Leslie Howard and Bette Davis. Based on the novel of the same name. The Painted Veil (1934), featuring Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall. Based on the novel of the same name. The Right to Live (1935), starring George Brent and Josephine Hutchinson. Based on the play The Sacred Flame. Secret Agent (1936), starring John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll and Robert Young, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Based on Ashenden. The Tenth Man (1936), directed by Brian Desmond Hurst. Based on the play of the same name. Isle of Fury (1936), starring Humphrey Bogart. Based on the novel The Narrow Corner. Another Dawn (1937), starring Errol Flynn. Based on the play Caesar's Wife. The Vessel of Wrath (1938), starring Charles Laughton; released in the United States as The Beachcomber. Based on the novella of the same name. The Letter (1940), featuring Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Frieda Inescort and Gale Sondergaard. Based on the play of the same name. Too Many Husbands (1940), featuring Jean Arthur, Fred MacMurray and Melvyn Douglas. Based on the play Home and Beauty. The Moon and Sixpence (1942) with George Sanders. Based on the novel of the same name. Christmas Holiday (1944), starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly, based on the novel of the same name. The Hour Before the Dawn (1944), starring Veronica Lake, based on the novel of the same name. Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. (1946). Unauthorized film version of "Miss Thompson" with an all-black cast, directed by Spencer Williams. The Razor's Edge (1946). featuring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney. Based on the novel of the same name. Of Human Bondage (1946), a version starring Eleanor Parker. The Unfaithful (1947), starring Ann Sheridan, based on The Letter. Quartet (1948). Maugham appears as himself in introductions. Based on four of his short stories. The Facts of Life. Directed by Ralph Smart. From the short story collection The Mixture as Before. The Alien Corn. Directed by Harold French. From the short story collection First Person Singular. The Kite. Directed by Arthur Crabtree. From the short story collection Creatures of Circumstance. The Colonel's Lady. Directed by Ken Annakin. From the short story collection Creatures of Circumstance."W. Somerset Maugham", British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2022; and Mander and Mitchenson, pp. 296–297 Trio (1950). Maugham appears as himself in introductions. Another collection based on short stories. The Verger. Directed by Ken Annakin. From the short story collection Cosmopolitans. Mr Knowall. Directed by Ken Annakin. From the short story collection Cosmopolitans. Sanatorium Directed by Harold French. From the short story collection Creatures of Circumstance. Encore (1951). Maugham appears as himself in introductions. A third collection of Maugham short stories. The Ant and the Grasshopper. Directed by Pat Jackson. From the short story collection Cosmopolitans. Winter Cruise. Directed by Anthony Pelissier. From the short story collection Creatures of Circumstance. Gigolo and Gigolette. Directed by Harold French. From the short story collection The Mixture as Before. Miss Sadie Thompson (1953), a semi-musical version in 3-D, featuring Rita Hayworth and José Ferrer. The Beachcomber (1954). Based on the novella The Vessel of Wrath; not to be confused with the 1938 film. The Letter (1956), TV adaptation starring Siobhan McKenna. Based on the play of the same name. The Seventh Sin (1957), with Eleanor Parker. Based on the novel The Painted Veil. Julia, du bist zauberhaft (1962), starring Lilli Palmer and Charles Boyer. Based on the novel Theatre. Of Human Bondage (1964), with Laurence Harvey and Kim Novak. W. Somerset Maugham – a series of 26 adaptations for BBC television, 1969–1970:"W. Somerset Maugham", BBC Genome. Retrieved 16 August 2022 A Casual Affair Norman Bird as Arthur Low, Gwen Cherrell as Joan Low, James Maxwell as Jack Almond, Hildegard Neil as Lady Kastellan, Richard Vernon as Lord Kastellan, Esmond Knight as Sir Montague Trafford. Director: Waris Hussein The Back of Beyond Daniel Massey as Knobby Clarke, Julian Glover as Tom Saffary, Mary Peach as Violet Saffary, Georgina Hale as Enid Clarke. Director: John Frankau The Creative Impulse Brenda de Banzie as Mrs Albert Forrester, John Le Mesurier as Mr Albert Forrester, Megs Jenkins as Mrs Bulfinch, Derek Hart as the Narrator. Director: James Cellan Jones The Letter Eileen Atkins as Leslie Crosbie, Andre Morell as George Joyce, Peter Bowles as Robert Crosbie. Director: Christopher Morahan A Man with a Conscience Keith Barron as Jean Charvin, John Glyn-Jones as Jean-Paul Giradous, John Phillips as The Commandant. Director: Henri Safran The Three Fat Women of Antibes Renee Houston as Frank Hickson, Elspeth March as Beatrice Richman, June Ellis as Arrow Sutcliffe, Elizabeth Sellars as Lena Finch. Director: Bill Hays P. and O. Margaret Tyzack as Mrs Hamlyn, Peter Barkworth as Mr Jephson, Martin Jarvis as Dr. Naughton. Director: Gilchrist Calder Lord Mountdrago Michael Goodliffe as Lord Mountdrago, William Squire as Owen Griffiths, Cyril Luckham as Sir Philip Brandower, Yootha Joyce as Elvira, Paul Whitsun-Jones as Bracegirdle. Director: Moira Armstrong Louise Sarah Badel as Louise, Pauline Yates as Betty Maitland, Neil Stacy as Tom Maitland. Director: Guy Verney Episode Joe Brown as Fred Manson, Anna Calder-Marshall as Gracie Carter, Jerome Willis as Ned Preston. Director: John Warrington Mother Love (based on A Woman of Fifty) Rossano Brazzi as The Count, Amanda Murray as Laura Clayton, Peter Egan as Tito. Director: Claude Whatham The Fall of Edward Barnard Robert Sherman as Bateman Hunter, Ed Bishop as Edward Barnard. Director: John Matthews Before the Party Anna Massey as Millicent Bannon, Joss Ackland as Harold Bannon, Fanny Rowe as Mrs Skinner, Anna Cropper as Kathleen Skinner, Clive Morton as Mr Skinner, Avice Landon as Mrs Grey, Geoffrey Chater as Mr Grey. Director: James Ferman The Force of Circumstance John Stride as Guy Wilkes, Lynn Farleigh as Doris Hanson, Lally Bowers as Mrs Hanson. Director: John Frankau Jane Rachel Kempson as Jane, Georgina Cookson as Marion Towers, Gerald Flood as Geoffrey Mandeville, Dennis Price as Admiral Frobisher. Director: Guy Verney Rain Carroll Baker as Sadie Thompson, Michael Bryant as Mr Davidson, Gordon Jackson as Dr MacPhail. Director: John MacKenzie The Unconquered Michael Pennington as Hans. Director: Gilchrist Calder The Vessel of Wrath James Booth as Ginger Ted, Siân Phillips as Martha Jones, John Glyn-Jones as the Rev Owen Jones. Director: Gareth Davies Olive (based on The Book Bag) Eileen Atkins as Olive Hardy, Edward Fox as Tim Hardy, Martin Potter as Mark Featherstone. Director: James Cellan Jones The Closed Shop Charles Gray as the Storyteller, Peter Jeffrey as El Presidente Two, Paul Whitsun-Jones as El Presidente One, John Junkin as Don Agosto. Director: Moira Armstrong The Door of Opportunity