- Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Christopher Reeve, High Grant, James Fox
- Directors: James Ivory
- Writers: Kazuo Ishiguro, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
- Producers: Donald Rosenfeld, Ismail Merchant, John Calley, Mike Nichols, Paul Bradley
- Format: PAL
- Language English, French, German
- Classification: U
- Studio: Cinema Club
- VHS Release Date: 1 July 2002
- Run Time: 134 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004RQGB
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,494 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Remains of the Day is one of Merchant-Ivory's most thought-provoking films. Anthony 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 housekeeper whose attraction to Stevens is doomed to disappointment. As Nazi appeaser Lord Darlington, James Fox clings to the notion of a gentleman's agreement in the ruthless political climate before World War Two. Hugh Grant is his journalist nephew all too aware of reality, while Christopher Reeves gives a spirited portrayal of an American senator, whose purchase of Darlington Hall 20 years on sends Stevens on a journey to right the mistake he made out of loyalty. As a period drama with an ever-relevant message, this 1993 film is absorbing viewing all the way.
On the DVD: the letterbox widescreen format reproduces the 2.35:1 aspect ratio with absolute clarity. Subtitles are in French and German, with audio subtitles also in English, Italian and Spanish, and with 28 separate chapter selections. The "making-of" featurette and retrospective documentary complement each other with their "during and after" perspectives, while "Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honour" is an interesting short on the question of appeasement and war. The running commentary from Thompson, Merchant and Ivory is more of a once-only diversion. --Richard Whitehouse
Synopsis
Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson star in this moving story of a butler's steely devotion to his master and the high-spirited young woman who threatens to crack his reserve.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
In spite of the magnificence of the stately home in which this is set this is a surprisingly low-key film, helped by a beautifully moody score. Everything about it is understated to great effect. Anthony Hopkins plays a butler who is anxious to distance himself from the fact that a previous employer, Lord Darlington (James Fox) was a notorious Nazi appeaser. His new employer (Christopher Reeve) loans him his car so that he can go and pay a long-overdue visit to the ex-housekeeper (Emma Thompson). During the journey Hopkins reflects on his past career at Darlington Hall.
It is very hard to find the right words to describe what a beautiful film this is. Anthony Hopkins gives an incredible performance, quietly restrained but acting with every fibre of his being, as the man who has devoted himself to a lifetime of service, to the detriment of his own emotions and feelings. Nowhere is this more effective than in the scenes with his elderly father (Peter Vaughan), where he has the difficult job of portraying a man who cares deeply for his father but won't let anything (not even his father's death) get in the way of duty. Vaughan is also faultless as the man who has effectively turned himself into a human machine, there solely to serve others, and distraught when he can no longer do so.
James Fox has the unenviable role of playing Lord Darlington, a man who, though you can understand his own personal reasons for wanting to appease the Germans (he made a pact in the trenches with a German friend that they would never go to war again), it is hard to be sympathetic to his naivety when dealing with the Nazi's. The scene where he orders the two Jewish refugees he has working for him to be sent away is quite chilling. As is the house-party where he lavishly entertains some of the German top brass, and behind his back they are quietly making note of all his fine arts, for when they finally get to commandeer the house! These are all deeply uncomfortable scenes to watch.
The relationship between Hopkins and Thompson is the highlight of this film. Emma Thompson playing one of her most loveable characters, the oh-so English (almost Joyce Grenfell-ish) Miss Kenton. Hopkins is never better than when struggling with his attraction for her, and Thompson's increasing frustration with him that he won't break out of being a butler, not even for an instant! If you watch this film you won't regret it, it is intelligent, thought-provoking and deeply moving, and has some of the best acting you will ever see on film. I don't want to give too much away, but the ending perfectly sums up the old saying that to be reticent about love is possibly the worst mistake of all!
57 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Hopkins delivers one of the finest performances in cinema hisory as the loyal butler, too dedicated to his job to concentrate on the affairs of his own life. Both Hopkins and Thompson show supurb acting and on-screen chemistry that really sets a mark for the British film industry. The film contains a wide variety of fine co-stars with the likes of Hugh Grant and Christopher Reeve who add yet more strength to the overall quality of this film.
Totally recomended to all who expect to be entertained by good acting and high standard drama.
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Remains of the Day is without question my favourite book. Indeed I have enjoyed all of Kazuo Ishiguro's books. Now ordinarily I would expect that watching a film of what I consider to be one of the great books, even a film as highly aclaimed as this one, is only going to lead to disappointment. Indeed I had put off watching this for years for that very reason, I did not want my memory of the book to be spoilt by an inferior film. What a foolish mistake that proved to be.
This film is quite simply outstanding.
It is failful to the novel and does an impressive job of adapting almost the entire book into film so the beautifully told story is not lost at all.
It is the acting that really makes this though. Much has been said about Hopkins performance and it is one of his best (if not the best), but the supporting cast are equally strong. Emma Thompson is brilliant as Miss Kenton, playing the character just as I would have imagined.
I can't recommend this highly enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Remains of the Day- Fantastic DVD
Loved the film,great quality DVD. Fantastic picture quality, dissapointed with the end, wanted a happy one! Thanks for the brilliant film, Marie
Published 17 days ago by Marie
Remains of the day
An excellent all star performance to be enjoyed by the more mature person, an excellent collectable buy! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. G. E. Giles
Great title - great film
This is a superbly acted film. Some events do stretch the imagination somewhat and the ending perhaps could have been better scripted. Read more
Published 1 month ago by acecard
A good old classic film
A fantastic story. Light entertainment. If you like a good film without bad language , sex or violence then you will enjoy.
Published 2 months ago by Cathy
Ivory set in Merchant gold again
Ismail Merchant, producer, and James Ivory, director, took Kazuo Ishiguro's, novel and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's screenplay and turned them into another highly successful Merchant... Read more
Published 6 months ago by RR Waller
sense and sensibility, little women and remains of the day dvd
bought this as a Christmas present so havent had the chance to check it yet but definately have seen the films previously as single dvds and loved them all
Published 6 months ago by R. Horn
It Should not have been Eight Oscar Nominations...
...it SHOULD have been WINNER of eight Oscars!
This is an utterly remarkable film from start to finish, with captivating performances by Anthony Hopkins and Emma... Read more
This is an utterly remarkable film from start to finish, with captivating performances by Anthony Hopkins and Emma... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Rochester
REMAINS OF THE DAY
FIRST I READ THE BOOK. ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE READ RECENTLY. LATER, I DECIDED TO WATCH THE DVD. I WAS A LITTLE WARY, AS THE FILM ISN'T USUALLY AS GOOD AS THE BOOK IN MY VIEW. Read more
Published 7 months ago by kennaamy
A masterpiece
Anthony Hopkins was nominated academy award best actor for his role in this film. He did not win it but no doubt he deserved it - this was his best performance ever. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Z. Doron
dvd
this product was great value and delivered quickly and cheaply. i would not hesitate to use this company again. a good firm to deal with.
Published 9 months ago by tommo
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