Bright Young Things (2003)

An adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel "Vile Bodies", is a look into the lives of a young novelist, his would-be lover, and a host of young people who beautified London in the 1930s.

Director:

Stephen Fry

Writers:

Stephen Fry (screenplay), Evelyn Waugh (novel)

Stars:

Stephen Campbell Moore, Emily Mortimer, Dan Aykroyd

10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon McBurney	...	Sneath (Photo-Rat)
Michael Sheen	...	Miles Maitland
Emily Mortimer	...	Nina
James McAvoy	...	Simon Balcairn
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Adam
Stockard Channing	...	Mrs Melrose Ape
Adrian Scarborough	...	Customs Officer
Jim Carter	...	Chief Customs Officer
Fenella Woolgar	...	Agatha
Dan Aykroyd	...	Lord Monomark
Julia McKenzie	...	Lottie Crump
Bruno Lastra	...	Basilio
David Tennant	...	Ginger Littlejohn
Jim Broadbent	...	The Drunken Major
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Judge

Storyline

A fool and his money. In the 1930s, Adam Fenwick-Symes (Stephen Campbell Moore) is part of the English idle class, wanting to marry the flighty Nina Blount (Emily Mortimer). He's a novelist with a one hundred-pound advance for a manuscript confiscated by English customs. He spends the next several years trying to get money and to set a wedding date. He trades in gossip, wins money on wagers, then gives it to a drunken Major (Jim Broadbent), who suggested he bet on a horse in an upcoming race. Adam tries to get the money back, but can't find the Major. Meanwhile, Nina needs security, friends drink too much, and general unhappiness spoils the party. Then war breaks out. Is Adam's bright youth dimming with the fall of an empire?

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian subtext | orgy | man dancing with man | lesbian | homosexual | 

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Taglines:

Sex... Scandal... Celebrity... Some things never change.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Offical Site with synopsis, trailer, cast & crew Revolution Films

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

Agria niata

Filming Locations:

Port of Tilbury, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$46,926, 22 August 2004

Gross USA:

$933,637

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,682,600

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Film Consortium, UK Film Council, Visionview Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Simon Balcairn was born on January 21, 1910.

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Goofs

Although the issues of "The Daily Express" displayed throughout the film continually give the date as 1931, the outbreak of World War II is announced on the BBC. This event took place on September 3, 1939. Approximately eight years passed in the space of several months of the film's storyline.

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Quotes

Colonel Blount: Don't think me discourteous, but I'm afraid it's impossible for me to ask you to luncheon. I have a guest coming on intimate family business. It's some young rascal who wants to marry my daughter.
Adam Fenwick-Symes: Well, I want to marry your daughter too.
Colonel Blount: What an extraordinary thing. Are you sure?

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Crazy Credits

The end credits list the actors one or two at a time, showing pictures of their characters in the film along with their names.

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Connections

Version of Vile Bodies (1970)

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Soundtracks

In A Monastery Garden
Written by Albert W. Ketèlbey
Performed by Locian Ensemble

User Reviews

what can I say?

I was one of the voices of the angels in this film. It is interesting and light hearted. I must say that it presents an interesting view on high society in England that I would guess rings true even now after having lived in the country for multiple years. The characters are considerably well developed and one does feel a connection to at least one character as they view the film. The story is an entertaining one to those of us that are interested in life throughout the nineteen twenties and thirties. It gives a very intimate view of life changes in the younger crowd of that era in the twentieth century. Good to watch, oh, and if you ever meet Mr. Fry...he is an interesting character...