I don't have anything useful to add in answer to those questions, I just wanted to chime in and say that I adore Maurice, both the novel and the film. (You should most certainly read the novel if you enjoyed the film; I actually prefer it, which isn't usual for me.)

Oh, and I feel I should point out that Maurice Hall is actually the epitome of middle class - if you got the impression that he was of noble birth, you weren't paying sufficient attention! :-)