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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)

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Reviews Counted:55

Fresh:38

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.

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

Genre: Dramas

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... 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 [More]

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

Starring: Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend, Zoe Tapper, Anna Massey, Robert Lang, Marcia Warren, Georgina Hale, Michael Culkin, Anna Carteret, Millicent Martin, Clare Higgins, Lorcan O'Toole, Timothy Bateson, Olivia Caffrey, Emma Pike, Sophie Linfield, Carl Proctor

Director: Dan Ireland

Director: Dan Ireland
Studio: Cineville

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Dec 12, 2006

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Reviews for Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont

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It's a cozy, little film and one worth warming up to during the holidays.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/06/05
E! Online
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
04/08/06
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
09/02/06
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
10/14/06
Arizona Republic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
10/27/06
Sydney Morning Herald

Dame Joan Plowright has been cast here in the most dominant and demanding role that she has ever undertaken in a 54-year career on stage, screen and television.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
11/16/05
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Of course, sentiment in such pure form is hard to embrace. Without a realistic edge, it's like a flower arrangement: lovely for a short span, then prone to wilting.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
03/31/06
Bruce Westbrook
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

... a low-key weepy about loneliness and (possibly) learning to conform one's romantic expectations to reality.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/06/05
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's funny, poignant, sweet, heartbreaking, and thoroughly entertaining. These are the kind of rich characters that make you want to pop round for a spot of tea.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
02/24/06
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

Ireland, who made the brilliant, equally unfashionable The Whole Wide World, respects the kindness and concern his characters show each other.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
05/04/06
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ireland ... has in Friend and Plowright the exactly right actors to give friendship a glow of platonic soul romance.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
05/19/06
David Elliott
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune

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 Source: ReviewExpress.com | comment Comment
05/29/06
Diana Saenger
Diana Saenger
ReviewExpress.com

Pour yourself a cup of Earl Grey and enjoy.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/28/06
Don Willmott
Don Willmott
Filmcritic.com

Too often confuses gooey sentimentality for legit compassion.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
11/22/05
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

A small film, done in a minor key. At times, it can be so slow it's like watching paint peel.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
03/25/06
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Eric Monder
Eric Monder
Film Journal International

Audiences susceptible to this sort of sweet Hallmark Hall of Fame sentimentality will be taken by the movie. Everyone else will probably find it just too manipulative.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
03/21/06
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

... an amiable, sweetly sentimental tale ...

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
08/13/06
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Underneath the sweet, sometimes whimsical friendship of elegant, lonely old Mrs. Palfrey and the handsome young charmer ... lies a serious, melancholy movie about the isolation and marginalization of the elderly.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
11/28/05
Jami Bernard
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The story may sometimes overpower you with its honeysuckle sentiment and spiced bathos, but it's a movie that's self-aware enough to make winking references to such films as Harold and Maude and Brief Encounter.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
11/28/05
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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