Delightful, delicious and dynamic - definitely worth savouring.
Based on a lesser known play of Noel Coward’s , who said that “ ... It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.” Director Stephan Elliot (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) has tried to make the film more contemporary and very distinct from the Merchant-Ivory school of film. The film is about the revelation of secrets, which are hidden within the social class system in a wealthy family in the ravishing and roaring 1920’s, a somewhat seemingly stereotypical family with several secrets hidden behind the lavish artwork adorning their walls.
John Whittaker (Ben Barnes) meets Larita , a glamorous American race car driver, (an outstanding part played by Jessica Biel)whist abroad and proposes to her and brings her home to meet the family...who have mixed reactions towards her. So ensues a rather entertaining game of cat (or rather dog in this case) and mouse between Mrs Whittaker (Kirsten Scott Thomas) and her sons new spouse.
Colin Firth for once does not play (entirely) to type, this time he is a disillusioned man back from WW II with a commanding wife and an impossibly family. He is one of the few people who approves of his son’s choice and makes this quite apparent. One of Stephan Elliot's nice touches is an anachronistic use of such songs as Car Wash and Sex Bomb, done in a very twenties style. The addition of a hilarious "dog scene" is another nice touch. Fans of Noel Coward (and even Merchant-Ivory) won't be disappointed.
Shot in beautiful locations, very close to Nottingham, a key one being Flintham Hall. Stephan Elliot said that when he entered the house he knew it was perfect and that he had to use it, the only issue was that the owner insisted on clearing the place up before filming! Kris Marshal , famed from hit TV show My Family and more recently , the BT adverts. He takes on the role of Fuber – the unconventional butler who literally steals the scene every time with a mere few words.
Amy V Gathercole
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