For some reason I think about this movie every once in awhile. It’s quite old, I think it would be from the 50’s. Twice I’ve rented the Sandpiper because I think that is the movie I’m thinking about but when I watch it, I realize that it’s not the one I remember.
The plot is a love story, the man is a respected family man, I know that he has a wife and children, I think that the wife is blonde but I could be wrong. It think he’s a teacher or clergy or something. It could be set in Italy or something like that. He meets a beautiful dark haired woman, (I think dark hair). They have an affair that carries on for years and have a child. I believe it is a secret and nobody knows about it. They love each other deeply and then he becomes sick and is in the hospital. Then at the last moment, then wife allows the woman and I think the child to come to the hospital to see her husband on his death bed. It is kind of a story about forgiveness and compassion. I saw it about 30 some years ago and I thought it old at that time. I don’t know why I keep thinking about it.
It sounds a lot like Back Street, but they don’t have a child and the ending is a little different.
There are three versions, from 1932, 1941, and 1961. The 1961 version is the most changed and actually sounds least like your recollection, but in all of them the ending is basically the same. The wife is already dead and he’s dying in a hospital. He convinces his son to let him talk to her on the phone before he dies.
I checked out Back Street and played a clip from YouTube, unfortunately not the one. What I remember most distinctly is the man being in the hospital at the end with his wife and children. I think the mistress comes to the hospital, and maybe is hiding around, the wife finds compassion and allows her to his bedside. (I think they have a child too, but maybe they don’t) I used to think it was Liz Taylor but I’ve checked her films and can’t find anything like that of hers. Thanks for your input.