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Sense And Sensibility / Remains Of The Day / Little Women [1996]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The Remains of the Day is one of Merchant-Ivory's most thought-provoking films. Anthony Hopkins is a model of restraint and propriety as Stevens, the butler who "knows his place"; Emma Thompson is the animated and sympathetic Miss Kenton, the housekeeper whose attraction to Stevens is doomed to disappointment. As Nazi appeaser Lord Darlington, James Fox clings to the notion of a gentleman's agreement in the ruthless political climate before World War Two. Hugh Grant is his journalist nephew all too aware of reality, while Christopher Reeves gives a spirited portrayal of an American senator, whose purchase of Darlington Hall 20 years on sends Stevens on a journey to right the mistake he made out of loyalty. As a period drama with an ever-relevant message, this 1993 film is absorbing viewing all the way.

On the DVD: the letterbox widescreen format reproduces the 2.35:1 aspect ratio with absolute clarity. Subtitles are in French and German, with audio subtitles also in English, Italian and Spanish, and with 28 separate chapter selections. The "making-of" featurette and retrospective documentary complement each other with their "during and after" perspectives, while "Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honour" is an interesting short on the question of appeasement and war. The running commentary from Thompson, Merchant and Ivory is more of a once-only diversion. --Richard Whitehouse


Mesmerizing, Intelligent Look at Star-Crossed Love from Merchant & Ivory
Review date: 2008-08-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

"Remains of the Day" will be regarded as one of the great film masterpieces of the Merchant-Ivory team, now tragically ended with the untimely death, earlier this year, of Ismail Merchant from cancer. Their films were the quintessential cinematic epics respectful of both the settings and characters adapted from both period and contemporary novels, blessed frequently with elegant scripts from their literary partner Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and of course superb acting from their casts. "Remains of the Day" excels in all of these categories, as a spellbinding, faithful adaptation of the Kazuo Ishiguro novel, with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson as the star-crossed would-be lovers and servants of the pacifist Nazi sympathizer Lord Darlington (James Fox). Along with elegant acting from both Hopkins and Thompson in two of their finest roles, there is splendid acting too from the likes of James Fox, Christopher Reeve, Ben Chaplin, and a young Hugh Grant as Lord Darlington's godson.

James Ivory's masterful direction takes the audience to and fro between the mid 1930s and the early 1960s, focusing our attention on the chief butler Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) and the housekeeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), who gradually realize that they are attracted to each other. But alas Stevens, like his master, Lord Darlington, puts his mistaken notions of duty and honor before passion, making a decision he will find himself regretting, albeit for a brief while, years later, when he seeks out Ms. Kenton in a brief, bittersweet reunion for both. Ivory's film is a beautifully realized meditation on unrequited love, which will appeal to fans of Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, and of course Merchant-Ivory films.

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Reviews


Time and Tide Wait for No Man
Review date: 2008-05-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

In this excellently made, finely-acted Merchant Ivory production, Anthony Hopkins is the emotionally repressed and complex butler to Lord Darlington, who is also a complex type in his way, far more so than the Amazon synopsis ("...a Nazi appeaser") would have us believe. Lord Darlington fought in WW1 and, like many others of his time (1936 onwards) wishes to avoid WW2. He also considers, quite rightly in my opinion, that the Versailles Treaty was both kicking down a defeated enemy and a seed of future conflict.

Darlington attempts to link those in authority in Germany with those in authority or with influence in the UK in order to avert the catastrophe. His son, an idiotic person (played by Hugh Grant), whose main interest is fishing, eventually becomes the tool of the "war party" led by Churchill, although that aspect (and especially the filial disloyalty involved) is but lightly touched on in the film. He attempts to spy on his own father using the butler, who, however, resists the ploy.

The only really weak scene of the film is when a German delegation come to stay and move around the house saying, in German with subtitles, things like "ah Jawohl, we note these valuable paintings for later, ha ha!", as if to say "when we loot them after we occupy the UK". Pretty poor and very propagandistic. Apart from the value judgment about "looting" (the American and certainly the Soviet forces certainly did more than the Germans ever did in WW2 and even Goering usually paid for his artworks, often paying Jewish dealers -- like Daniel Wildenstein--in Paris or Amsterdam well over the market value!), the fact is that very few in Germany wished to occupy the UK, Hitler wanted an alliance with the British Empire and people (of which he was in fact a fervent admirer in many ways) and Operation Sealion was never more than a contingency plan and, possibly, deception operation (to divert attention from the planned upcoming assault on the Soviet Union). That scene weakens the film a bit.

Another scene which is a bit overplayed is the bit where the British Fascist leader (VERY closely but crudely modelled on the PERCEPTION of Mosley in his more bombastic moments, as parodied in P.J. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster books and the British TV productions of them) sounds off at dinner about doing down the unions. Mosley, though, was not anti-union as such and, after flying service in WW1, had been an M.P. for the LABOUR Party, before becoming disillusioned with its lack of results and founding, first, the New Party, then the British Union of Fascists. The portrayal in this film just copies the idea that those who wished for peace with Germany were all both wealthy and wishing to tread on the workers. Not so.

Christopher Reeve, in pre-Superman days, plays a youngish American politician who makes an undiplomatic and insolently rude fuss about the idea of giving the Germans an even break. The German Valkyrie delegate looks frostily away. Presumably the financial backers of this film (and I think we can make an educated guess about what kind of Americans they were...!) insisted on this scene. In fact, State Department policy, despite Roosevelt, was largely neutralist at the time and ambiguous thereafter (Vichy France maintained a Washington embassy until mid-1943...).

Later, the film moves on to a time about ? ten years after the war. A scene in a pub and afterwards shows a range of opinions, from a local doctor who is totally in the Churchillian propaganda mentality, to an intoxicated bar-room arguer who calls Churchill " a warmonger", which surely even his admirers will admit he was. But the butler admits to the doctor that Lord Darlington eventually knew he had been mistaken. That's a pity, because to my way of thinking those who tried to avoid war before 1939 and who tried (some of them) to help broker an armistice after Dunkirk in 1940, were right in their thoughts and actions, looking at the devastation and misery not only during that conflict but right up to today (the fallout in Asia and Africa of the destruction of the European empires).

Emma Thompson plays the more emotional and more pôlitically opposed (to Darlington) housekeeper. She eventually decamps, though I should not wish to spoil the plot by saying too much.

Quite Magnificent Peerless Acting by all especially by Hopkins.
Review date: 2008-01-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

Quite simply one of the most breathtaking performances by any British actor for many years.Though i am a welshman like Mr Hopkins his portrayal of the totally loyal butler Mr Stevens must rank alongside Olivier and Alec Guiness as one of the finest acting performances by any British actor.

Set throughout the war years in a typical large country estate known as Darlington Hall Hopkins rules the downstairs staff with his quiet dominance.Nobody questions his authority and whilst James Fox conducts high level talks with the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and German officials in total secrecy to appease Hitler, he maintains his dignity throughout.

Emma Thompson lends a perfect supporting role as Miss Kenton the assistant house keeper whose obvious love for Hopkins goes unreturned.It is obvious there is a deep admiration between them but his loyalty to his Lordship is unquestionable.

The scene where Miss Kenton confronts Stevens over a book he is reading is perfection.Note the beautiful shadows surrounding both actors to conjour up a mood of love but restraint.

On his Lords death twenty years later the new Lord played sadly in possibly his last role before his life changing accident by Christopher Reeve relies completely on Stevens to ensure a safe transfer of duties.

Other appearences to ensure that this is a timeless classic are made by
Richard E Grant(before his star rating appearence of Four Weddings) who adds realism to this superb drama.He enquires what is going on down in the library whilst the Prime Minister and German officials are conducting talks.Stevens in his calm manner replies that nothing atall is going on, and really it is nothing to concern him.

In much later years whilst Stevens revisits Miss Kenton now married in Brighton the love and admiration lying underneath is magnificently played by both.On their final parting in driving rain their parting moments are magnificent,acting of the highest quality.

This is without doubt Hopkins finest hour,on par with his CS Lewis character in "Shadowlands" and Emma Thompson and Richard E Grant are magnificent bringing real depth to this slow moving magnificent drama.

Now if it wasn't for that huge film Schindlers List carrying away vertually every Oscar during the 93 ceremony then Remains of the Day surely would have received atleast one of the eight nominations it recieved,but sadly it got no just reward. Im sure had it been a different year the film would have recieved its due recognition.

The fact that it was given a massive eight nominations showed the accademy had realised the film was something special but Schindlers List was too great a triumph to be denied its glory.

I cannot think of many British films of any era to equal the acting presence that Remains of the Day offers.Yes Hopkins in "Shadowlands" runs it a very close second but still he was on Oscar winning form,a far better performance than Hanibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs but comparing both films is impossible both are so different.

It really is a masterpiece that those who admire great acting must watch atleast once in their lives.

Move over Burton Mr Hopkins has become Wale's greatest actor.

Perfect Performances
Review date: 2007-12-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

Some may not appreciate my stating that I find some of the Merchant Ivory productions stodgy and self-absorbed. Not so this one. Antony Hopkins and Emma Thompson lead a cast who just did everything right.

Antony Hopkins butler character is a study in deference and emotional repression. A difficult childhood is hinted at by his father. We are left to flesh out a few brief remarks, and wonder how he was left so cold and detached. He immerses himself in his work. The housekeeper played by Emma Thompson, is obviously attracted to the butler, and the attraction appears mutual at times. There are almost tender moments between them, but ultimately, he is never going to let his guard down. It is as though he uses the strict formality of the era and the household to hide behind.

The film is slow burning, with little action. A sub-plot concerning the pre war Nazi sympathy of the master do nothing to take my attention away from the story of the butler and the housekeeper.

This movie deserved all it's Acadamy Award nominations. What a pity it never won any. It is a fine example of British cinema at it's best.

Remains of the Day
Review date: 2007-09-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Remains of the Day is a subtle, thought-provoking work, and perhaps Anthony Hopkins' all-time best performance. He plays Stevens, a career butler at the service of Lord Darlington, a Nazi appeaser who uses his diplomatic influences to promote cross-cultural ties with Germany in the early 1930s. Stevens is a dutiful servant and a perfectionist to the point of being an heartless automaton. Isolating his feelings both about his master's diplomatic mission and his own passions, his professionalism and reserve almost entirely inhibit his ability to convey his emotions.

When he warms to the spirited, but equally efficient housekeeper Miss Kenton (played by Emma Thomson), he begrudgingly recognises her as an equal and later, as a friend. However, she holds an attraction to him that he is quite unable to reciprocate owing to house rules and, more powerfully, his own sense of self-possession. Stevens' comportment, as he fights down his feelings, perhaps knowingly against his own passions, is so subtly played by Hopkins that we do not know where the professional ends and the human begins. Has a life of butlering totally frozen his feelings, or is the struggle against his passions a conscious, willful act of self-destruction? Remains of the Day keeps us guessing until the end, as Stevens has one more opportunity to fulfill his affection for Miss Kenton, but will be capable of righting the wrongs of the past?

Remains of the Day also looks at the vestiges of Britain's landed power, the politics of the noble gentleman that was finally buried by the outbreak of the second world war. Christopher Reeve plays an American statesman disgusted by the amateurism of the old order, warning of a need to enter an era of real politics in the face of the modern threat of Nazism. The illusion of the old way of doing diplomacy in old manor houses, with gentleman's agreements struck over cognac and cigars, was to be brutally undermined by history. Lord Darlington's naivety and blindness to the events unfolding around him mirrors poignantly with Stevens' refusal to aknowledge his feelings or those of others.

There are a number of establishing shots in the film that view the house though doorways and windows that seem suggestive of blinkered perspective. Butlering itself, and the meticulous presentation of the house for the guests, are acts of performance and illusion at odds with reality. Remains of the Day, like Ishiguru's subsequent novel 'When we were Orphans', concerns itself with the ways in which the second world war destroyed quaint British philosophy of the gentleman, and its ability to solve the world's ills through reason and reserve. Ultimately Stevens belongs to a dying era of people for whom this philosophy represents an all-encompassing framework, and who use it to imprison their spirit.

There are a number of great scenes in this film but the finest for me - and possibly the most famous - is when Miss Kenton finds Stevens reading a romantic novel in his study and literally has to corner him and prise his fingers off it to discover what it is. The corny romance of such a book is a flight of fancy to a man like Stevens, and its exposure represents a massive violation of his privacy. The intrusion revealing a human fragility and innocence beneath the professional veneer, and he seems either unaware or simply terrified by Miss Kenton's apparant advances. His body language throughout the scene is a work of remarkable complexity and subtlety. Superb.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Susan Sarandon
Kate Winslet
Winona Ryder
Emma Thompson
Kirsten Dunst

Creators:
Emma Thompson (Primary Contributor)
Emma Thompson (Writer)
Kate Winslet (Primary Contributor)
Jane Austen (Writer)
Kazuo Ishiguro (Writer)
Louisa May Alcott (Writer)
Robin Swicord (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822145719
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2004-05-17
Number of discs: 3
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 373 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1993-11-05
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: German (Original Language)

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