Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)

Director:

Bharat Nalluri

Writers (WGA):

David Magee (screenplay) and
Simon Beaufoy (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 March 2008 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Every Woman Will Have Her Day

Plot:

Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse.

Plot Keywords:

Governess | Singer | Nightclub | Lingerie | Piano

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Amy Adams	...	Delysia Lafosse
David Alexander	...	Chestnut Seller
Clare Clifford	...	Margery
Christina Cole	...	Charlotte Warren
Stephanie Cole	...	Miss Holt
Beatie Edney	...	Mrs. Brummegan
Shirley Henderson	...	Edythe DuBarry
Ciarán Hinds	...	Joe Bloomfield
Sarah Kants	...	Annabel Darlington
Sally Leonard	...	Woman at Train Station
Frances McDormand	...	Miss Guinivere Pettigrew
Katy Murphy	...	Miss Holt's Assistant
Lee Pace	...	Michael Pardue
Tom Payne	...	Phil Goldman
Tim Potter	...	Nightclub Patron

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some partial nudity and innuendo.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43967) | Hong Kong:IIA | Finland:K-7 | UK:PG | South Korea:12 | Ireland:PG | New Zealand:PG | Netherlands:6 | South Africa:PG | Sweden:Btl | Singapore:PG | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Keylight Entertainment Group

Trivia:

Winifred Watson's book was published the fall of 1938 and it became a smash hit. Plans were in the works for a Hollywood film version starring Billie Burke as Miss Pettigrew, but the start of WWII brought those plans to a halt. The publisher re-released the book in 2000 which lead to it being "found" again by Hollywood after 60+ years.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film takes place immediately before the outbreak of World War II, when England told Germany that they would declare war if Germany invaded Poland. Germany did so, and England declared war in early September, 1939. However, the film depicts an advanced state of autumn, with cool winds, dead leaves, etc. In actuality, war was declared on a beautiful late summer's day in England. It was not yet autumn.

Quotes:

Nick: Since when do girls together smoke cigars, answer me that.
Guinevere Pettigrew: [bluffing] If I want to smoke cigars, I'll damned well smoke cigars, thank you very much, and to hell with your opinion.
Nick: What, they're yours?
Guinevere Pettigrew: You betcha, baby.
[coughs]

Movie Connections:

References Vigil in the Night (1940)

Soundtrack:

Dream

Simply irresistible

When I first saw the trailer for Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, I was a little off put, it looked like a movie that I was either going like a lot or really dislike and feel like it was a waste of time. So I saw Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day this morning and I really liked it a lot. Miss Pettigrew is a feel good light hearted romantic comedy, one that we need more of these days. It had bright colors, a fun story, and enchanting actors. Frances McDormand was so brilliant and a lot of fun to watch, she's got such a presence on the silver screen and has still got that magical touch. Amy Adams was just adorable, I really am starting to love her more and more in each movie I see her in, she's just so cute in her role as Delysia. The weird thing is, is that her character could have been such a tramp, but she made it into someone so cute and likable that her and Miss Pettigrew into a great on screen friendship.

Miss Pettigrew is a woman in the 1930's who has gone through so much, she's getting fired from one job to the next. But when she sneaks into being a "social secretary" for Delysia Lafosse, a sexy young vixen who is dating three guys at the same time. But she just wants to have the lead role in the local play and become a huge actress, but it's hard balancing these boys, but with Miss Pettigrew, she realizes that she might just be in love with a great man. Miss Pettigrew in the mean time catches the eye of a handsome rich man, Joe, who may just change her life.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a charming film and is one of the better films of 2008. I know that it's a bit predictable and it's a chick flick, but it's just a fun movie that I'm sure you'll like. It doesn't try too hard and the actors looked like they had such a great time making this movie. I would recommend Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, it's worth the watch. It's a nice romantic comedy that's original, clean, and fun. It brought me back to the classic movies of the 1950's where they were just fun entertainment, the colors and the feel of movie was just enchanting.

8/10