Actors - The Remains of the Day

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	Actors - The Remains of the Day

The Remains of the Day (1993) is a Merchant Ivory film adapted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala from the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. It was directed by James Ivory and starred Anthony Hopkins as Stevens and Emma Thompson as Miss Kenton, with support from James Fox, Christopher Reeve, Hugh Grant, Tim Pigott-Smith and Ben Chaplin.

Synopsis

Mr. Stevens, played by Anthony Hopkins, is a butler of great skill and professionalism. The film begins in the 1950s and is told in flashback to the 1930s, when Darlington Hall was in its greatest glory. The new housekeeper, Ms. Kenton, portrayed by Emma Thompson, is quite obviously attracted to Stevens, though Stevens never lets his affection show, preferring to keep his distance lest it present distractions to his work. Twenty years later, Ms. Kenton has left Darlington Hall to marry but has recently been estranged from her husband, indicating in a letter that she would be willing to return to her old post of housekeeper of Darlington Hall. Stevens then embarks on a journey across the British Isle in order to pursuade her to return with him. Along the trip, he reflects on his earlier life, looking back on his relationships between him and his employer, Lord Darlington and Ms. Kenton, to whom he is driving toward now.

The majority of the story is set in 30's and 40's England and a sub-theme of the story addresses some wider issues of the time, as Lord Darlington is portrayed as a German sympathiser who flirts with fascism. As well as providing context for the story, it emphasises that Stevens, although hugely competent in his limited millieu, struggles with larger issues outside his feudal loyalty to his master.

The film conveys deep emotions of unrequited love and the unwavering loyalty Stevens presents his employer. Hopkins plays his role magificently with the appropriate British reserve and gives the audience a life lesson on 'How to Waste One's Life'. Thompson also gives a jewel of a performance as the lovely Ms. Kenton who, like Stevens, gives up a social life for one of service, but is slightly less strict about such matters than Stevens.

Awards

The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards:

Best Actor in a Leading Role
(Anthony Hopkins),
Best Actress in a Leading Role
(Emma Thompson),
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration,
Best Costume Design,
Best Director,
Best Music, Original Score,
Best Picture, and
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

A film adaptation of the novel was originally slated to be directed by Mike Nichols, from a script by Harold Pinter. Nichols was ultimately one of the producers of the Merchant Ivory film. Powderham Castle was used as a location in shooting the film.

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