The Remains Of The Day is a touching story of unrequited love and blind devotion to duty,based on the novel by Ishiguro Kazuo. The film actually opens in the future. Darlington Hall, family pile of the late Lord Darlington, (James Fox) recently denounced as a Nazi sympathiser, has been sold to an American millionaire, Mr Lewis (Christopher Reeve). Stevens the butler (Anthony Hopkins) has stayed on. Butlering is all he knows, and all he expects to know. His unswerving devotion and loyalty to his former master has denied him any life of his own. Many years ago he did have the chance of love with Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), the very attractive housekeeper. The unspoken passion between them simmered as both went about their duties. But Stevens denied his feelings for the sake of duty. Miss Kenton, unable to make the first move and unsure of Stevens’ feelings, eventually leaves Darlington Hall and marries in haste. The marriage is not a happy one, and many years later, as the marriage finally breaks down, she gets back in touch with Stevens.By now, Stevens has realised just what he lost through his misguided sense of duty and longs to see Miss Kenton (now Mrs Benn). But is it too late now for him to make amends? This is a magnificent Merchant Ivory production, with surely two of the finest actors ever in the title roles, both former Oscar winners. The storyline is strong and the acting first-class. Set in the 1930s as Fascism begins to gain ground in Europe, the film shows us a long-forgotten world of rigid class structure and a sort of know-your-place, don’t-rise-above-your-station attitude which today we would find ridiculous. We feel for Stevens in his dilemma, hoping he will choose love, yet knowing he will choose duty. And when, years later, he seems to be offered a second chance, we pray he will take it. All in all, a truly wonderful film.
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The Remains of the Dayis one of Merchant-Ivory's most thought-provoking films. Anthony ... more
Hopkins is a model of restraint and propriety as Stevens, the butler who "knows his place"; Emma Thompson is the animated and sympathetic Miss Kenton, the housekeepe...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The Remains of the Dayis one of Merchant-Ivory's most thought-provoking films. Anthony ... more
Hopkins is a model of restraint and propriety as Stevens, the butler who "knows his place"; Emma Thompson is the animated and sympathetic Miss Kenton, the housekeepe...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1 to 3 weeks...
Stevens is the perfect English butler. Now employed by Mr Lewis the new American owner of ... more
Darlington Hall Stevens has spent the best part of his working life serving Lord Darlington the host of many prestigious international conferences in the 1930s...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Oscar Winners Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) and Emma Thompson (Howards End) ... more
star in this extraordinary and moving story of blind devotion and repressed love. Hopkins stars as Stevens, a dedicated English butler to Lord Darlington, beautifu...