A Good Woman (2004)

While retaining her secret identity, the illustrious Mrs. Erlynne (Hunt) saves Lady Windemere (Johansson) from making a grand social faux-pas with the scoundrelly Lord Darlington (Moore).

Director:

Mike Barker

Writers:

Oscar Wilde (play), Howard Himelstein (screenplay)

Stars:

Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Wilkinson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Hunt	...	Mrs. Erlynne
Scarlett Johansson	...	Meg Windermere
Milena Vukotic	...	Contessa Lucchino
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Lord Darlington
Mark Umbers	...	Robert Windemere
Roger Hammond	...	Cecil
John Standing	...	Dumby
Tom Wilkinson	...	Tuppy
Giorgia Massetti	...	Alessandra
Diana Hardcastle	...	Lady Plymdale
Shara Orano	...	Francesca
Jane How	...	Mrs. Stutfield
Bruce McGuire	...	Waiter Joe
Michael Stromme	...	Hotel Desk Clerk
Antonio Barbaro	...	Paulo

Storyline

In 1930, Mrs. Erlynne, who describes herself as poor and infamous, driven from New York society by jealous wives, sees a news photo of wealthy Lord Windermere and his young wife: she heads for the Amalfi Coast to be among the rich and famous for 'the season' and to snare Mr. Windermere. Gossips twitter as he spends his afternoons with her, his wife blissfully innocent as she blushingly fends off attentions from a young English nobleman, an international playboy who thinks he's in love. Mrs. Erlynne is also pursued by a worldly-wise older English nobleman. Mrs. Windermere's 20th birthday party approaches, where all plays out amid numerous amoral Wildean aphorisms.

---

Plot Keywords:

gossip | marriage proposal | high society | lord | party | 

---

Taglines:

Seduction. Sex. Scandal. She's the talk of the town.

---

Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material, sensuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Films [United States] Vertigo Films [UK]

Country:

UK Italy Spain Luxembourg USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

15 December 2005 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Good Woman - Ein Sommer in Amalfi

Filming Locations:

Amalfi, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£130,193 (UK) (13 May 2005)

Gross:

$223,144 (USA) (17 February 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beyond Films, Magic Hour Media, Thema Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Fiennes was originally offered the role of Lord Darlington, but turned it down to play Bassanio in Michael Radford's adaptation of The Merchant of Venice (2004).

---

Goofs

In the scene where Meg is painting her nails (after discovering her husband has been writing checks to Mrs. Erlynne), the nail varnish clearly has a gray plastic lid, which wouldn't have been available in this era.

---

Quotes

Lord Darlington: I find the best way to keep my word is never to give it.

---

Connections

Version of El abanico de Lady Windermere (1944)

---

Soundtracks

Meg Goes Shopping
Written by Richard G Mitchell
Performed by Richard G Mitchell
Published by Bucks Music Group Ltd

User Reviews

Harmless, amazing flick.

I must say I was very impressed with this little flick. I had minimal expectations upon entering our little preview screening.

Shot in a very safe & traditional manor, it features sets which pay incredible attention to detail. The characters, although slightly over-emphasized at times (which fitted the cinematic style), were believable and enough conflict was generated to keep you wandering how people were going to respond to the presented situations. And keep you just a little bit squeamish from time to time.

Quite amazing at certain parts... which worked fabulously in our setting, as our ages spanned from 18 to 90 years old, and everyone had a giggle from time to time.

If your a DOP or photography enthusiast, it also contains one of the most impressive focus pulls I've seen in a while, which certainly bought a smile to my face. :-) Also, the costumes are exquisite.

Well worth watching on a Sunday afternoon over a bottle of red.