This film is as endearing as it repugnant. That said, I wasn't there at the time, I hadn't lived with the aftermath of WWI and who knows to what extent I would bend by morality if I thought peace rather than war was achievable? Also, I have never been a Butler!
My significant other really enjoyed the book and was keen to catch up on this 1993 period film out of the Merchant-Ivory stable. There is no doubt that the acting, sets, screenplay and cinematography are all first class - a film worthy of eight Academy Award nominations although it won none because of the opposition. Anthony Hopkins - Stevens and Emma Thompson as Miss Kenton command the screen as the atmosphere between the two of them fizzes and sparkles with the tension of unspoken attraction.
This is a film about duty, honour and unrequited love. Set between the wars in the country seat of Lord Darlington (James Fox) - Darlington Hall, it traces two intertwined stories. In the first, Lord Darlington uses his influence and international contacts to convene a gathering of politicians and influencers who might just be able to redress the crippling terms of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany and head off another conflict.
The second story is the relationship between Stevens and Kenton which Stevens never allows to get beyond the professional. Stevens allows himself to be defined by his role and he has no capacity for anything else beyond that. Always dutifully on call, anticipating the needs of Lord Darlington and the many house guests while managing a large domestic staff. He manages to get his father taken on as an under Butler but his father's failing health means he is no longer suited to the role and as he lies dying in his bed in the servant's quarters upstairs, Stevens chooses to continue serving his Lord at table. Duty prevails.
The life of being in service is one where marriage is not an option as you cannot serve two masters. The film reeks of Victorian values and unspoken social codes. Despite his unvoiced, even unacknowledged feelings for Kenton, Stevens is conflicted when she announces that she has accepted a proposal of marriage and will be leaving Darlington Hall. Inwardly, he is cut to the core but outwardly he offers her congratulations and accepts her resignation. They part. Duty prevails.
What is not immediately apparent, at least to me, is that Lord Darlington and his cronies are not mere appeasers, but actually becoming full-on right wing fascist sympathisers. This becomes apparent in later meetings where the servants of the house are party to all kinds of conversations which of course they choose not to hear. Their duty to their master prevails.
Although most of the film is set in the inter-war years, it opens in 1958 postwar Britain as a wealthy American who has bought Darlington Hall wishes to recapture the grandeur of its heyday - including keeping Stevens on as Butler. The American is former Senator Lewis (Christopher Reeve) who was part of the 1930's meetings that attempted to find a peaceful solution to the growing tension between Germany and the Western allies. He had the foresight to call Lord Darlington and his cronies amateurs who were in over their heads.
In further flashbacks to the 1930's we see Lord Darlington increasing his support for the Nazis and entertaining an Oswald Mosley type figure. He even arranges a meeting between the British Prime Minister and the German Ambassador von Ribbentrop.
In 1958 Lewis insists that Stevens should take a holiday. Having received a letter from Kenton after many years of silence, Stevens learns that she is now separated from her husband and longing for the fulfilment of the time she worked at Darlington Hall as Housekeeper. Stevens is urged to take the Daimler by Lewis and so he sets off to Somerset to find Kenton.
En route he runs out of petrol and is forced to seek shelter in a local pub where he is mistaken for being a gentlemen. A local Doctor sees through Stevens and the next day whilst helping him refuel the car, confronts him and when her learns he is the Butler at Darlington Hall challenges stevens about his former employer's Nazi sympathies. To begin with Stevens denies things but eventually confesses to being party to overhearing many unsavoury conversations, stating that it was not his place to object - duty prevails.
Eventually Stevens and Kenton meet up and enjoy a pleasant afternoon tea together. Stevens is reticent about inviting Kenton to return to Darlington Hall, whilst Kenton states that she wishes to remain in Somerset close to her now pregnant daughter although she leaves the door open to be persuaded otherwise. Stevens, having missed the opportunity, leaves a bitterly disappointed and tearful Kenton to vanish into the distance on the bus. Duty prevails.
Stevens returns to Darlington Hall where Lewis asks him if he remembers his speech all those years ago. Stevens replies he was too busy serving to pay attention to the speeches that were made.
This is a great film but ultimately leaves me feeling sad about the Stevens-Kenton situation and annoyed that I was taken in by Lord Darlington who all along was a Nazi sympathiser - hence my opening remark. The characters are very strong, but how close to any truth the story is, I do not know. It is however, a powerful exploration of the British class system and the blindness required by the duty of a Butler. Both quite depressing really. I'm finding it hard to score this excellent film because of what it did to me - a certain confirmation that it is indeed storytelling and acting of the highest order.
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