Mrs. Palfrey at the
Claremont
Dan Ireland's latest film is the comedy drama, "
Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont", based on the best selling novel of the same name, by the late, celebrated
English author,
Elizabeth Taylor, for Cineville and
Picture Entertainment.
The story centers around an elegant elderly lady (Mrs Palfrey) who, after being recently widowed, moves from
Scotland to
London to be near to her 26 year old grandson,
Desmond. When Desmond fails to return any of her several phone calls, or visit her at the resident hotel she is staying (The Claremont), fate brings her together with a young writer, Ludovic
Meyer, after she has an accident outside his basement flat.
Eventually,
Ludo ends up helping Mrs. Palfrey by playing a charade - pretending to be her grandson, so that the other off-beat elderly residents of the hotel believe that she hasn't been lying, and that she really does have a grandson.
The two newly found friends discover they have a lot more in common with each other then they do with other people their own age.
Ludo inadvertently leads Mrs Palfrey through her past; Mrs Palfrey inadvertently leads Ludo to his future. The young writer finally finds the story he has been looking for all his young life - and Mrs Palfrey finds the 'grandson' she never knew she had. Thus begins a deep-rooted friendship that is far reaching, and everlasting.
Along the way,
a few problems arise when her real grandson shows up at the hotel.
The film starts one of the greatest actresses of our time,
Dame Joan Plowright (
Enchanted April), aka
Lady Laurence Olivier, in the largest and most demanding role of her screen career, and introduces a stunning new actor in a leading role,
Rupert Friend (
The Libertine,
Pride and Prejudice). The supporting cast consists of some of the greatest and most respected actors from the Engligh stage,
Anna Massey (
Peeping Tom,
Frenzy),
Georgina Hale (
Mahler,
The Devils,
The Boyfriend),
Millicent Martin (
Alfie),
Clare Higgins (this year's
Best Actress Olivier Award winner for her performance in Hecuba), and newcomer
Zoe Tapper (
Stage Beauty). The film was photographed by Claudio
Rocha, Ireland's long time cinematographer, with music by
Stephen Barton.
The score was produced by
Ireland's long time collaborator,
Harry Gregson-Williams (
Kingdom of Heaven,
Domino and
Shrek). The film was Produced by
Lee Caplin,
Zachary Matz and
Carl Colpaert.
The screenplay was written by
Ruth Sacks, with additional dialogue by
Martin Donovan and Dan Ireland.
Running time:
94 mins
Starring:
Joan Plowright -- Ruport
Friend
Rating:
Not Rated
DVD Features:
Biographies -- Filmographies --
Photo Galleries --
Interactive menus --
Jump to scenes --
Dolby Sound --
PC/Mac compatible
Street date:
December 2006
Part #:
WLV3438
UPC #:
798622343826
- published: 07 Apr 2008
- views: 22270