Impromptu (1991)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

James Lapine

Writer:

Sarah Kernochan (writer)

Release Date:

May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Music

Plot:

In 1830s France, pianist/composer Frédéric Chopin is pursued romantically by the determined, individualistic woman who uses the name George Sand.

Plot Keywords:

Composer | 1830s | Frederick Chopin | Duel | Footsie Under The Table

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Judy Davis	...	George Sand / Aurora
Hugh Grant	...	Frederic Chopin
Mandy Patinkin	...	Alfred De Musset
Bernadette Peters	...	Marie D'Agoult
Julian Sands	...	Franz Liszt
Ralph Brown	...	Eugene Delacroix
Georges Corraface	...	Felicien Mallefille
Anton Rodgers	...	Duke D'Antan
Emma Thompson	...	Duchess D'Antan
Anna Massey	...	George Sand's Mother
David Birkin	...	Maurice
Nimer Rashed	...	Didier
Fiona Vincente	...	Solange
John Savident	...	Buloz
Lucy Speed	...	Young Aurora
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Baroness Laginsky (as Elisabeth Spriggs)
Jezabelle Amato	...	Innkeeper's Wife
Claude Berthy	...	Chopin's Valet
André Chaumeau	...	Priest
Nicholas Hawtrey	...	Philosopher
Isabelle Guiard	...	Princess
Fernand Guiot	...	Butler
Sylvie Herbert	...	Sophie
Annette Milsom	...	Ursule
Jean-Michel Dagory	...	Innkeeper
François Lalande	...	Local Doctor
Ian Marshall de Garnier	...	Editor
Dale Scott-Giry	...	Woman at Party
Stuart Seide	...	Clerk

Directed by
James Lapine

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sarah Kernochan		writer

Produced by
Jean Nachbaur	....	executive producer
Stuart Oken	....	producer
Daniel A. Sherkow	....	producer

Cinematography by
Bruno de Keyzer

Film Editing by
Michael Ellis

Art Direction by
Gérard Daoudal
Anne Seibel

Costume Design by
Jenny Beavan

Makeup Department
Christiane Berroyer	....	hair stylist
Jean-Pierre Berroyer	....	hair stylist
Fabienne Bressan	....	hair stylist
Cédric Gérard	....	makeup artist
Dominique Plez	....	makeup artist
Denis Poulain	....	wig maker
Jean-Luc Russier	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Patrick Gordon	....	unit manager
Suzanne Wiesenfeld	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vincent Lascoumes	....	second assistant director
Bernard Seitz	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michel Guérin	....	head carpenter
Josette Jover	....	drapery
Guy Montbillard	....	propman
Gilbert Piéri	....	propman
Patrick Veron	....	construction foreman
Albert Wiss	....	head painter

Sound Department
Kevin Beirne	....	assistant dialogue editor
Paul Bertault	....	dubbing mixer
Louise de Champfleury	....	dialogue editor
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Laura Harrison	....	assistant sound effects editor
Michel Klochendler	....	sound effects editor
Grethe Mitchell	....	dialogue editor
Gadou Naudin	....	assistant foley artist
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
Steve O'Brien	....	boom operator
Jacques Thomas-Gérard	....	dubbing mixer (as Jacques Thomas Gerard)
Jacques Thomas-Gérard	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dorothee Veron	....	assistant dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Gilbert Piéri	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Daniel Marchetti	....	opticals

Stunts
Joëlle Baland	....	stunts (as Joelle Balland)
Mario Luraschi	....	stunt coordinator
Leslie Rain	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Philippe Brun	....	camera operator
Elie Ferszt	....	electrician
Gil Fontbonne	....	grip
Charlie Freess	....	key grip (as Charles Freess)
Jean-Yves Freess	....	grip
Michel LeFrançois	....	gaffer
Jean-Marie Leroy	....	still photographer
Denis Moncel	....	electrician
Jean-Hugues Oppel	....	assistant camera
Philippe Peyraud	....	electrician
Dominique Pinto	....	assistant camera
Gérard Sionneau	....	generator operator (as Gerard Sionneau)
Nicolas Sommermeyer	....	grip (as Nicholas Sommermeyer)
Jackson Stricanne	....	grip

Casting Department
Joyce Gallie	....	casting: UK
John S. Lyons	....	casting: USA (as John Lyons)
Françoise Menidrey	....	casting: France
Jacqueline Perpere	....	extras casting
Trisha Twomey	....	casting: USA
Sally Wignall	....	assistant casting: UK (as Sally Wigmal)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Florence Andraca	....	dresser (as Florence Andracca)
Pippa Cleator	....	assistant costume designer
Nathalie Doux	....	dresser
Elsa Soustre	....	wardrobe mistress
Robert Worley	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Anne de Montangon	....	first assistant editor
Martine Mory	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Roger Berthier	....	music contractor
Anne de Montangon	....	music editor
Alex Steyermark	....	associate music supervisor
John Strauss	....	music arranger
John Strauss	....	music supervisor
Chris Walker	....	conductor
Chris Walker	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Valérie Arlaud	....	trainee
Mary Bailey	....	technical advisor
Kate Barton	....	public relations
Kate Barton	....	unit publicist
Clifford De Spenser	....	dialogue coach (as Clifford De Spencer)
Cathy Dutheil	....	production secretary
Daniel Marchetti	....	title designer
Ick-Choo Moon	....	piano instructor
Philippe Scieux	....	piano instructor
Yonty Solomon	....	piano instructor
Joan Washington	....	dialogue coach
Blanche Wiesenfeld	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• C.L.G. Films
• Governor Productions
• Les Films Ariane
• Sovereign Pictures

Distributors

• Sovereign Pictures (1991) (UK) (theatrical)
• Hemdale Film (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cannon Tuschinski Film Distribution (1992) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Excelsior Films (199?) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1991) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Les Films Ariane (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Hemdale Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  public relations

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 | Australia:M | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Château des Briottières, Champigné, Maine-et-Loire, France

Company:

C.L.G. Films

Quotes:

George Sand: We shall all be in our graves soon enough, but Chopin is eternal.

Movie Connections:

Version of La note bleue (1991)

The perfect antidote for the summer blockbuster

Whenever I get tired of the typical summer movie featuring highly evolved apes, genetically engineered dinosaurs, and other such foolishness, I pull out my (well-used) copy of "Impromptu," and all my blues go away. Far from an expensive, smug, carefully marketed blockbuster, "Impromptu" is a thinking person's film. The plot is cleverly constructed, the costumes are lovely, and most important: What A Cast!!! Any film that puts Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin together is a winner in my book (those of us who are theatre junkies are aware of their previous marvellous collaborations), but this film manages to include Emma Thompson, Judy Davis, Julian Sands, and Hugh Grant. What fun!!!