When her sister dies in 1846, Bette moves from the château to Paris to work as a theater seamstress. She helps a handsome, starving artist. When her niece lures him away from her, she plans a devious revenge.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Geraldine Chaplin | ... |
Adeline
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| John Benfield | ... |
Dr. Bianchon
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| Hugh Laurie | ... |
Hector
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| Jessica Lange | ... |
Bette
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| Paul Bandey | ... |
Priest
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| Laura Fraser | ... |
Mariette
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| Toby Stephens | ... |
Victorin
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| Kelly Macdonald | ... |
Hortense
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Janie Hargreaves | ... |
Célestine
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Gillian Martell | ... |
Portress
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| Elisabeth Shue | ... |
Jenny Cadine
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| John Sessions | ... |
Musical Director
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Henrik Wager | ... |
Baritone
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| Aden Young | ... |
Wenceslas
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| John Quentin | ... |
Elderly Aristocrat
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| Bob Hoskins | ... |
Crevel
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| Jefferson Mays | ... |
Stidmann
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| Tim Barlow | ... |
De Forzheim
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| Heathcote Williams | ... |
Nucingen
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| Philip Jackson | ... |
De Wissembourg
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| Toby Jones | ... |
Gentleman in Café des Artistes
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Kenneth Jay | ... |
Gentleman in Café des Artistes
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| Simon McBurney | ... |
Vauvinet
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| Geoffrey Carey | ... |
Duelmaster
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| Dermot Keaney | ... |
Chief Gendarme
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Laetitia Colombani | ... |
(uncredited)
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Mathieu Naert | ... |
Street kid (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Des McAnuff | ||
Written by
| Honoré de Balzac | ... | (novel) |
| Lynn Siefert | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Susan Tarr | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Philippe Guez | ... | co-producer |
| Sarah Radclyffe | ... | producer |
| Rob Scheidlinger | ... | executive producer |
| Lynn Siefert | ... | executive producer |
| Susan Tarr | ... | executive producer |
| Neris Thomas | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Simon Boswell | ||
Cinematography by
| Andrzej Sekula | ||
Editing by
| Tariq Anwar | ||
| Barry Alexander Brown | ||
Editorial Department
| Hermione Byrt | ... | first assistant editor |
| Christophe Combes | ... | third assistant editor |
| Paul Ensby | ... | grader |
| Nathalie Ermont | ... | editing department trainee |
| Katherine Grimond | ... | post-production assistant |
| Mark Harris | ... | first assistant editor |
| Catherine Jardine | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Lucky Smith | ... | second assistant editor |
| Aminta Townshend | ... | post-production assistant |
| Rona Buchanan | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Lucy Smith | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Karen Margiotta | ||
| Mary Margiotta | ||
| Liora Reich | ||
Production Design by
| Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski | ||
Art Direction by
| Richard Bridgland | ||
| Bertrand Clercq-Roques | ... | (as Bertrand Clerq-Roques) |
| Didier Naert | ... | supervising art director |
Set Decoration by
| Robert Le Corre | ||
Costume Design by
| Gabriella Pescucci | ||
Makeup Department
| Jean-Charles Bachelier | ... | hair stylist |
| Catherine Damiani | ... | makeup artist |
| Linda De Andrea | ... | hair stylist: Ms. Lange |
| Romaine Demicas | ... | makeup assistant (as Romaine De Micas) |
| Marie-Pierre Hattabi | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Maureen Hetherington | ... | additional makeup artist (as Maureen Heatherington) |
| Desne J. Holland | ... | hair stylist: Ms. Shue (as Desne Holland) / makeup artist: Ms. Shue (as Desne Holland) |
| Paul Huntley | ... | wigs: Ms. Lange |
| Terry Jarvis | ... | wig maker |
| Dorothy J. Pearl | ... | makeup artist: Ms. Lange (as Dorothy Pearl) |
| Lisa Pickering | ... | additional makeup assistant |
| Ivana Primorac | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Jenny Shircore | ... | hair designer / makeup designer |
| Christine Whitney | ... | additional makeup assistant |
Production Management
| Jean-Jacques Damiani | ... | unit manager |
| Josceline Genest | ... | post-production supervisor: Montreal |
| Daniel Szuster | ... | production manager |
| Florent Valentin | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Eric Bartonio | ... | first assistant director |
| Barry Alexander Brown | ... | second unit director |
| Daisie De Gueltzl-Paradis | ... | trainee assistant director (as Daisy Degueltzl) |
| Amadou Faye | ... | third assistant director |
| Frédéric Garson | ... | second assistant director (as Frederic Garson) |
| Judy Minor | ... | assistant director: theatre scenes |
| Aminta Townshend | ... | third assistant director |
Art Department
| Jean-Claude Alei | ... | carpenter |
| Yves Allemand | ... | carpenter |
| Herve Babald | ... | plasterer |
| Serge Barberousse | ... | swing gang |
| Brigitte Baudet | ... | supervising sculptor |
| Stephane Beauverger | ... | carpenter |
| Frédéric Betaillole | ... | art department assistant (as Frederic Bataillole) |
| Karen Boetschi | ... | plasterer |
| Daniel Borgnon | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Philippe Boucheron | ... | carpenter |
| George Boudic | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Eric Boulain | ... | plasterer |
| Eric Bourges | ... | construction coordinator |
| Paul Nicolas Boutier | ... | carpenter |
| Philippe Boutillier | ... | sculptor (as Philippe Boutille) |
| Jean Pierre Cartier | ... | carpenter |
| Eric Charbeau | ... | assistant art director |
| Bernard Chedin | ... | prop buyer |
| Jean-Pierre Chevalier | ... | swing gang |
| Bernard Coispel | ... | carpenter |
| Giovanni Coppola | ... | scenic artist |
| Bruno Coucoureux | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Daniel Crociati | ... | painter |
| Jean-Noël Delalande | ... | painter |
| Jean-Pierre Delettre | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Jean-Marc Depond | ... | swing gang |
| Joris Dijkmeijer | ... | plasterer |
| Christian Dossat | ... | supervising painter |
| Patrick Dufau | ... | lead man |
| Olivier Dugue | ... | carpenter |
| Laurent Duquenne | ... | carpenter |
| Richard Fitzgerald | ... | storyboard artist |
| Marc Flouquet | ... | prop buyer |
| Jean Garat | ... | carpenter |
| Emmanuelle Garcia | ... | painter |
| Vincent Gazier | ... | sculptor |
| Samantha Giblin | ... | art department assistant |
| Jane Gifford | ... | scenic artist / sketch artist |
| Stephane Girard | ... | swing gang |
| Federica Glaretta | ... | painter |
| Franz Goelzer | ... | painter |
| Gil Grollier | ... | dressing props |
| Isabelle Gruand | ... | assistant draper |
| Marie-France Harribey | ... | assistant draper |
| Jean-Francois Huchet | ... | carpenter |
| Bernard Husquin | ... | supervising carpenter |
| Joel Kieffer | ... | painter |
| Nathalie Larcher | ... | trainee painter |
| Remi Laureau | ... | carpenter |
| Isabelle Le Cudennec | ... | trainee sculptor |
| Gwendal Le Goarnig | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Jean-Sebastien Lhersi | ... | carpenter |
| Claude Locussol | ... | carpenter |
| Delphine Mabed | ... | assistant art director |
| Catherine Mananes | ... | painter |
| Magali Manotte | ... | painter |
| Philippe Margottin | ... | stand-by props |
| Franz Merckling | ... | carpenter (as Franck Merckling) |
| Jacques Mizrahi | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Georges Mougine | ... | draper |
| Nour-Eddine Oitahar | ... | painter |
| Bruno Oliver | ... | prop food supplier: Cafe Gourmand |
| Jean-Philippe Petit Robert | ... | carpenter |
| Tom Pleydell-Pearce | ... | stand-by props |
| Amanda Ponsa | ... | painter |
| Quentin Prévost | ... | carpenter (as Quentin Prevost) |
| Laurence Raphael | ... | plasterer |
| Christophe Ribereau-Gayon | ... | sculptor |
| Theophile Robert | ... | painter |
| Bernard Rolland | ... | prop buyer |
| Patrick Schmitt | ... | construction buyer |
| Vincent Sentis | ... | carpenter |
| Jean Pierre Tonnelier | ... | carpenter/tracer |
| Marc Valladon | ... | carpenter / construction assistant |
| Anne Ventura | ... | assistant art director |
| Philippe Vermeille | ... | supervising carpenter |
| Thomas Vichy | ... | machinist |
| Jean-Loup Walraet | ... | supervising carpenter |
| Jean-Pierre Waterlot | ... | chargehand painter |
| Claire Worthington | ... | prop buyer |
Sound Department
| Jérôme Ayasse | ... | boom operator (as Jerome Ayasse) |
| Peter Dansie | ... | dialogue editor |
| Geoff Foster | ... | sound mixing engineer / sound recording engineer |
| Mathew Harmer | ... | playback sound (as Matthew Harmer) |
| Michael Harris | ... | playback sound (as Mike Harris) |
| Dean Humphreys | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Luke Jones | ... | assistant dialogue editor |
| Drew Kunin | ... | production sound mixer |
| Keith Mason | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Michael Redfern | ... | adr editor |
| Jupiter Sen | ... | sound designer |
| Derek Trigg | ... | sound editor |
| Nick Wollage | ... | assistant sound mixing engineer |
Special Effects by
| Peter Ch. Arnold | ... | special effects technician (as Peter Arnold) |
| Alexander Gunn | ... | special effects technician (as Alex Gunn) |
| Geoff Hood | ... | special effects technician |
| Graham Longhurst | ... | special effects supervisor |
Visual Effects by
| Zoe Cain | ... | scanning and recording: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Alan Church | ... | digital effects producer: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Sally Clayton | ... | effects compositor: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Tim Davies | ... | effects compositor: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Paul Round | ... | effects compositor: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Bill Scanlon | ... | visual effects producer: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Peter Talbot | ... | scanning and recording: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Matthew Twyford | ... | effects compositor: The Film Factory at VTR |
| Trevor Young | ... | scanning and recording: The Film Factory at VTR |
| David Sewell | ... | visual effects artist (uncredited) |
| John Swinnerton | ... | motion control cameraman (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Pierre Abraham | ... | gaffer |
| Thierry Alais | ... | dolly grip |
| Melissa Byers | ... | camera trainee |
| François Coignard | ... | electrician (as Francois Coignard) |
| Serge Croisy | ... | generator operator |
| Zoran Djordjevic | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Roland Dondin | ... | electrician |
| Nadia Doueiri | ... | clapper loader |
| Ziad Doueiri | ... | focus puller |
| Nathalie Ermont | ... | second assistant camera |
| Jasper Fforde | ... | assistant camera: second unit |
| Gilles Floquet | ... | dolly grip |
| David Koskas | ... | still photographer |
| Jonathan Lambert | ... | assistant camera: second unit |
| Pascal Lombardo | ... | best boy electric |
| Jean-Pierre Mas | ... | key grip |
| Philippe Peyraud | ... | electrician |
| John Ward | ... | steadicam operator |
| David Campbell | ... | crane operator: Technocrane (uncredited) |
Animation Department
| Daniel Borgnon | ... | tracer |
| George Boudic | ... | tracer |
| Bruno Coucoureux | ... | tracer |
| Jean-Pierre Delettre | ... | tracer |
| Gwendal Le Goarnig | ... | tracer |
| Jacques Mizrahi | ... | tracer |
| Jean Pierre Tonnelier | ... | tracer |
Casting Department
| Frederic Bourgade | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Jean Philippe Bourgade | ... | extras casting |
| Nathalie Cheron | ... | casting: France |
| Marie-Laure Ducombs | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Olivier Thomas | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Ghislaine Victor | ... | extras casting assistant |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Flora Brancatella | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Anne Brault | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Lorianne Chenel | ... | tailor (as Laurianne Chenel) |
| Mario Davignon | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Azmin Jaffer | ... | dresser |
| Antoinette Laparade | ... | dresser |
| Marie-Christine Lenormand | ... | dresser |
| Claudette Lilly | ... | assistant to costume designer |
| Annie Paris | ... | dresser |
Location Management
| Eric Belassen | ... | location manager: Paris |
| Pierre D'Hoffelize | ... | location manager |
| Bill Darby | ... | location scout |
| Jean-Daniel Gilvestre | ... | assistant location manager: Paris |
| Laurent Grenaud | ... | assistant location manager |
| Astride Kimpflen | ... | assistant location manager |
| Jordane LaFourcade | ... | location assistant (as Jordane Lafourcade) |
| Christophe Roux | ... | location assistant |
| Gilles Saulnier | ... | assistant location manager |
| Florent Valentin | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Becky Bentham | ... | music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Ltd. |
| Simon Boswell | ... | music arranger / music producer |
| Peter Davies | ... | musician |
| Terry Davies | ... | conductor / orchestrator |
| Pablo de Sarasate | ... | composer: song "Zapateado" from "Opus 23" (as Pablo Sarasate) |
| Isobel Griffiths | ... | orchestral contractor |
| Alex Heffes | ... | assistant to composer |
| Kevin Lane | ... | music editor |
| Maya Magub | ... | musician: violin (as Maya Megub) |
| Des McAnuff | ... | music adaptor |
| Ottokar Novácek | ... | composer: song "Perpetuum Mobile" |
| Giovanni Palestrina | ... | composer: song "Kyrie Eleison" |
| Colin Rae | ... | music copyist |
| Maggie Rodford | ... | music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Ltd. |
| Danny Troob | ... | music adaptor / music arranger: songs / musician: piano / orchestrator |
| Nick Wollage | ... | assistant recording engineer |
| Mark Berrow | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Rachel Bolt | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Thomas Cavanaugh | ... | music business & legal affairs (uncredited) |
| Ellen Ginsburg | ... | Music clearance (uncredited) |
| Christopher Ross | ... | musician: piano solo (uncredited) |
| Matt Walker | ... | music executive (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Jean Bourne | ... | script supervisor |
| Marion Peterson | ... | script translator |
Transportation Department
| Alain 'Manu' Baumgarten | ... | transportation captain |
| Mike Bleackley | ... | driver: winnebago |
| Philippe Dechaloup | ... | unit driver |
| Laurent Delpit | ... | unit driver |
| Gerry Gore | ... | driver: Ms. Lange |
| Johan Graslin | ... | driver: winnebago |
| Mike Henley | ... | vehicle supplier: Location Facilities |
| Rodolphe Lanaro | ... | unit driver |
| Bruce Lignerat | ... | driver: costume department |
| Vincent Merienne | ... | unit driver |
| Olivier 'Diabolo' Paltsou | ... | unit driver |
| Jean-Jacques Pauchey | ... | driver: honeywagon |
| Ray Redrup | ... | vehicle supplier: Location Facilities |
| Roger Samson | ... | unit driver |
| Albert Smith | ... | driver: winnebago |
| Bob Valles | ... | driver: winnebago (as Bob Vallas) |
Additional Crew
| Christophe Antonin | ... | unit assistant |
| Janine Barrientos | ... | production accountant |
| Pierre Bimes | ... | flowers supplier |
| Florence Bonichon | ... | assistant to production manager |
| Early Boyd | ... | assistant to director: New York |
| Sarah Briggs | ... | banking services: Lloyds Bank, Witney |
| Sabine Chaloupy | ... | assistant to co-producer |
| Sylvain Chatenoud | ... | catering assistant |
| Philip Clark | ... | assistant: Ms. Shue |
| Sophie Coulaud | ... | liaison: Bordeaux |
| Shaun Coyne | ... | adjuster: Crawford - THG |
| Stavros Crouzel | ... | catering assistant |
| Claude Dallet | ... | production accountant |
| Marc Dauber | ... | flowers supplier |
| Esther Douglas | ... | assistant to producer (sarah radclyffe) / assistant to producer |
| Penny Dyer | ... | adr dialogue coach |
| John Ensby | ... | laboratory contact |
| Mike Fidduch | ... | chef: Set Meals (as Michael Fiddock) |
| Lynn Gaskin | ... | contact: London |
| Jane Gibson | ... | choreographer / movement consultant |
| Isabelle Giese | ... | production secretary |
| Simon Giles | ... | title designer: main and end titles |
| Philippe Giraudeau | ... | assistant to choreographer |
| Bill Godfrey | ... | financial controller |
| Katherine Grimond | ... | assistant: Ms. Lange |
| Pat Harding | ... | production accountant: UK |
| Emmanuelle Hardolin | ... | assistant to production manager |
| Keith Hayley | ... | production accountant: UK |
| Olivia Herrantz | ... | secretary to co-producer |
| Billy Hinshelwood | ... | legal services: Marriott Harrison |
| Andrew Jack | ... | dialogue coach |
| Wolf Kroeger | ... | visual consultant |
| Thomas Lascar | ... | projectionist |
| Anne-Marie Lefèvre | ... | production office runner (as Anne Marie Lefevre) |
| Rodney Liber | ... | production consultant (as Rod Liber) |
| Dixie Linder | ... | production associate |
| Fenella Maguire | ... | key accountant |
| Chantal Malrat | ... | production accountant |
| David Marsan | ... | on-set medic |
| Agnes Marty | ... | assistant to co-producer |
| Sirish Maude | ... | tax and financial consultant: Maude & Co. |
| Alison McHale | ... | adjuster: Crawford - THG |
| Patrick Monsec | ... | unit assistant |
| Sinead O'Keeffe | ... | assistant to director: London |
| Kevin O'Shea | ... | insurance services: Aon/Albert G. Ruben |
| Camille Panonacle | ... | stand-in: Ms. Lange |
| Sammy Pasha | ... | assistant: Mr. Hoskins |
| Patricia Reid-Douglas | ... | production coordinator |
| Melissa Rosenbaum | ... | production coordinator |
| Phil Rymer | ... | legal services: Marriott Harrison |
| Jean-Guy Sirac | ... | unit assistant |
| Chad Sylvain | ... | researcher |
| Adrian Tanner | ... | rushes runner |
| Olivier Thomas | ... | stand-in: Mr. Laurie |
| Ollie Timberlake | ... | catering manager: Set Meals |
| Olivia Trench | ... | assistant to director: Bordeaux |
| Ghislaine Victor | ... | stand-in: Ms. Shue |
| Patrick Vignasse | ... | cashier |
| Dan Walker | ... | legal services |
| Lizzie Would | ... | assistant: Cordon Bleu |
Thanks
| Mark Cooper | ... | special thanks |
| Bob Crowdey | ... | special thanks |
| Robbie Robertson | ... | special thanks |
| Louise Seymour | ... | special thanks |
| John Spirit | ... | special thanks |
| Hugh Whittaker | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Fox Searchlight Pictures (1998) (United States) (theatrical) (a News Corporation company)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1998) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1998) (Norway) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Argentina (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Gativideo (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (tv) (limited)
- 20th Century Fox Television (tv)
- Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- New Star Home Entertainment (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)
- Twentieth Century Fox
Special Effects
- The Film Factory at VTR (visual effects)
Other Companies
- AIR Studios (music recorded at)
- AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services (insurance services)
- Air-Edel Associates (music coordination)
- Angel Voices Choir (group performers)
- Assurances Continentales (insurance services)
- Bordeaux Town Council (invaluable support)
- Cafe Gourmand (prop food supplied by)
- Cite Mondlale (thanks)
- Corbett & Keene (unit publicity)
- Crawford-THG (adjusters)
- Dolby (in selected theatres)
- Europcar (thanks)
- Goldcrest Post Production London (post-production services)
- Groupe Phenix (thanks)
- Hothouse Music (music supervision by)
- JMZ (thanks)
- L.A.B.A. S.r.l. (jewellrey supplied by)
- L.C.P. Calzature - Rome (shoe makers)
- La Mairie de Gradignan (thanks)
- La Mairie de Saint Andre de Cobzac (thanks)
- Le Chateau du Bouilh (thanks)
- Le Théâtre de la Coupe d'Or de Rochefort (thanks)
- Lloyds Bank, Witney (banking services)
- Locacitel (thanks)
- Location Facilities (vehicles supplied by)
- Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program (Quality assurance services were provided by)
- Madame Bijoux (jewellery supplied by)
- Malde & Co. (auditing)
- Maratier (weapons supplied by)
- Marriott Harrison (legal services)
- Panavision Grips (grip equipment supplied by)
- Paradox Voyages (travel agency)
- RCA Victor (soundtrack)
- Salon (editing equipment)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production services)
- Septième Production (production services)
- Set Meals (catering)
- Societe Marseillaise de Credit (banking services)
- Sylvia Wheeler Film Services (negative cutting)
- The Film Factory at VTR (titles)
- The London Session Orchestra (orchestra)
- The Travel Company (travel agency)
- Tirelli Costumi (costumes supplied by)
- Twickenham Film Studios (post-production services)
- Xotis (thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Cousin Bette is a poor and lonely seamstress, who, after the death of her prominent and wealthy sister, tries to ingratiate herself into lives of her brother-in-law, Baron Hulot, and her niece, Hortense Hulot. Failing to do so, she instead finds solace and company in a handsome young sculptor she saves from starvation. But the aspiring artist soon finds love in the arms of another woman, Hortense, leaving Bette a bitter spinster. Bette plots to take revenge on the family who turned her away and stole her only love. With the help of famed courtesan Jenny Cadine she slowly destroys the lives of those who have scorned her.
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Who knew deception, treachery and revenge could be this much fun... See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Opening Weekend United Kingdom | GBP44,082, 13 Sep 1998 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | According to his diaries, Alan Rickman turned down a role in this film. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Truman Show/The Last Days of Disco/A Perfect Murder/The Opposite of Sex/Hope Floats (1998). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Other Side of Heaven See more » |
| Quotes |
Mlle. Elisabeth 'Bette' Fisher:
For the sake of their pleasure, men commit the most appalling crimes. See more » |