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MOVIES / ON DVD / MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont

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Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005)

69%
79%
77%
N/A
N/A
N/A
69 %
Reviews Counted: 54 Fresh: 37  Rotten:17 Average Rating: 6.4/10
 
Consensus: Bittersweet and endearing, this film about aging and unexpected friendship is a lovely vehicle for Joan Plowright. Bittersweet and endearing, this film about aging and unexpected friendship is a lovely vehicle for Joan Plowright. more
 
Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Theatrical Release: Nov 25, 2005 Limited
Synopsis:
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... [More]
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. -- © Official Site [Less]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend, Zoe Tapper, Anna Massey, Robert Lang

Director: Dan Ireland

DVD Info

Release:

Dec 12, 2006

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Keep Case

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital - English

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - Director's Commentary
  • Additional Footage - Joan Plowright "Best Actress" Acceptance Speech At AARP Awards
  • Interviews - Cast Interviews
  • Trailer - Original Theatrical Trailer

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Biographies
  • Filmographies
  • Stills/Photos - Photo Gallery

Interactive Features:

  • Interactive Menus
  • Jump to Scene, Dolby Digital
  • PC/MAC Compatible

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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Ratings Image

This underwhelming "prestige" production offers a few pleasures, but doesn't stay in the memory very long.

Full Review | Comment
03/01/07 03:27 AM
Eric Monder
Film Journal International
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MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT is a rare treat, indeed, and a crowning achievement for Dame Joan Plowright.

Full Review | Comment
01/11/07 04:30 PM
Ted Murphy
Murphy's Movie Reviews
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Pour yourself a cup of Earl Grey and enjoy.

Full Review | Comment
12/28/06 04:20 PM
Don Willmott
Filmcritic.com
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Despite the measured pace and the predictable bitter sweet mood, the film is only occasionally enchanting

Full Review | Comment
11/10/06 02:21 AM
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
10/14/06 03:30 AM
Arizona Republic
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Full Review | Comment
10/14/06 03:30 AM
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
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Never less than enjoyable. All credit must go to Plowright and Friend, who give completely charming performances.

Full Review | Comment
09/22/06 08:25 PM
Paul Doro
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
09/02/06 03:29 AM
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
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One of the season’s most humane and heartening films.

Full Review | Comment
09/01/06 04:18 PM
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star
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You'd half expect the movie to throw caution to the wind and become "Grandmas Gone Wild," but the film is too prim to offer any surprises.

Full Review | Comment
08/24/06 11:03 AM
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star
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... an amiable, sweetly sentimental tale ...

Full Review | Comment
08/13/06 12:54 AM
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Unfortunately, the result is high melodrama, at once patronizing and predictable.

Full Review | Comment
06/24/06 03:31 AM
Toddy Burton
Austin Chronicle
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...the film allows 76-year-old Plowright, for years a wonderful character actress in a wide variety of projects, something to call her own.

Full Review | Comment
06/12/06 02:07 PM
Todd Jorgenson
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)
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It's an altogether satisfying drama -- the sort of movie some people complain they don't make anymore.

Full Review | Comment
06/02/06 06:09 PM
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
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Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is not a loud, fast-paced, over the top film, but one to be viewed with patience, anticipation and an open heart.

Full Review | Comment
05/29/06 10:23 AM
Diana Saenger
ReviewExpress.com
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It's all sweet and well acted (and well enough directed by Dan Ireland), but it's also yawn-provoking and maddening that the script is so far below the acting ability of the assembled talent.

Full Review | Comment
05/20/06 03:29 AM
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan
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Like the woman herself, Mrs. Palfry gets to you.

Full Review | Comment
05/19/06 04:34 PM
Ruthe Stein
San Francisco Chronicle
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Ireland ... has in Friend and Plowright the exactly right actors to give friendship a glow of platonic soul romance.

Full Review | Comment
05/19/06 04:32 PM
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune
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A small portrait of friendship and intergenerational connection, painted in delicate strokes and warm tones.

Full Review | Comment
05/19/06 04:31 PM
Tom Long
Detroit News
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Plowright, who has made something of a specialty of breathing life into stereotypically written older women for the past 20 years, makes the most of a rare opportunity to play someone still open to the surprises the world can bring.

Full Review | Comment
05/19/06 04:29 PM
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
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Related Forums

Exquisite Dan Ireland - divine... but
by: poplarlady 8/7/07

Around the Network

• Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont at Rotten Tomatoes
• Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont at AskMen
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