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Actors: Anthony Hopkins,Emma Thompson
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Remains of the Day |
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A butler believes the most important thing in his life is being a butler. He communicates love and thoughtfulness by his facial expressions yet throughout the film he refuses to say the things we continually beg him to say. It is obvious that the main character is a compassionate loving human being yet he never expresses his emotions and we see the results. He absolutely refuses to take a side. From the time his British employer is duped by the Nazis to when his love interest almost begs him to stop her marriage to another he stays faithful to his work.
--Tory French, Resident Scholar
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In a story that takes place largely between the two world wars, an excellent butler finds his sense of duty tested by a potential romance with a young housekeeper and his master's cultivation of fascist connections. James Stevens, the perfect servant (Hopkins), is so focused on his work that he just about misses the growing romantic attachment of Miss Sally Kenton (Thompson). This classic 1993 Merchant-Ivory production beautifully realizes Kazuo Ishiguro's fine novel, and Hopkins and Thompson portray their roles (in a series of wonderful old British mansions) to restrained perfection. Not a thriller by any stretch of the imagination, but a marvelous film.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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A stiff upper lipped butler strives for perfection in his position under his politically misled master. This utter dedication to work blinds him to the fact that there is surely more to life. On occassion he is aware that he has a heart but does nothing to requite it or hers (the housekeeper). Set during the demise of glorious Brittania and the rise of Hitler, Stevens'life is a narrative of propiety and dignity. on his little road trip to see Miss Kenton there is an unravelling of his character but there is always that heavy feeling of lateness/missed opportunities.
--john cotter, Resident Scholar
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The folks at Mercant Ivory (that's Ismail Merchant and James Ivory) Productions know a thing or two about great movies. Here, they team up Academy Award winners Anthony
Hopkins and Emma Thompson in a film based upon the novel written by Kazuo Ishiguro. It is the story of the perfect English butler (Hopkins who plays Stevens)--staid, unaffected by everything except performing his duties to perfection. Of course, he can admit to no personal feelings and affections and it is this theme of repressed love and blind obedience that director James Ivory plays to. The setting is pre-World War II England and Hopkins
attends to his responsibilities laid out by Lord Darlington, who is dabbling with the
liberal thoughts of Nazi support (it was considered a chic position for a while in the Thirties, before the real Hitler showed his ugly head!). The relationship between Hopkins and Thompson is the real story of this extremely well-done Academy Award-winning movie.
--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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A poignant story about a head butler Mr.Stevens(Hopkins)who is loyal and willing to serve his master wholeheartedly and gave up his dreams and love.
--Jenny, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Remains of the Day |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- butler
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- servant
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn curly
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Small town?
Yes
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
- frustrated
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- English
Subtitles?
- No
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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