Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)

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.

Director:

Bharat Nalluri

Writers:

David Magee (screenplay), Simon Beaufoy (screenplay)

Stars:

Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciarán Hinds

1 nomination.

Cast

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

Storyline

War threatens London as Miss Pettigrew, a destitute governess, filches a client's card from her agency and presents herself at the door. A singer named Delysia Lafosse wants a social secretary as she seeks a West End role by sleeping with a feckless producer in the bed of Nick, a smarmy nightclub owner with whom she also dallies. She ignores Michael, her piano player, who loves her and has tickets for New York on the Queen Mary. Miss Pettigrew's job is to make sure Delysia gets the part. Over 24 hours, Miss Pettigrew is also called upon to help an ambitious and unfaithful fashion editor patch things up with her older fiancé, a lingerie designer. Has Miss Pettigrew found her calling?

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Plot Keywords:

casting couch | lingerie | manic pixie dream girl | no panties | female rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

Every Woman Will Have Her Day

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some partial nudity and innuendo

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shot of Delysia getting out of the bath is a based on Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus', as she copies the body position together with the sea-shell pattern on the wall behind her.

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Goofs

Johnny Mercer's Dream, a lovely song and fitting the mood of the scene, wasn't written until 1944.

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Quotes

Delysia: Are you alright?
Guinevere Pettigrew: I have never sworn before in my life! Not even in my mind!
Delysia: I didn't hear you swear.
Guinevere Pettigrew: Yes I did! I said damned and hell, and I meant them.
Delysia: Oh, that's not swearing. They came out of the sinful category an age ago!

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Crazy Credits

Before the end credits, there is a black screen and a voice calling "some music please", after which music starts playing and the credits start rolling.

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Connections

References Vigil in the Night (1940)

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Soundtracks

If I Didn't Care
Written by Jack Lawrence
Performed by Amy Adams and Lee Pace
Arranged and Conducted by Paul Englishby

User Reviews

Different Romantic Comedy

In London in the beginning of World War II, the middle-aged Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is unemployed and hunger after being fired by her alcoholic employer. The social assistant refuses to offer another employment to her but Miss Pettigrew grabs the address of the American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) on her desk and heads to Delysia´s fancy apartment. Soon she befriends and is hired by Delysia, a beautiful woman that manipulates her two lovers to live comfortably, sing in a nightclub and be cast for a play. Miss Pettigrew helps Delysia to resolve her affairs and learn that Delysia has a true love, a poor piano player that has invited her to move to New York with him. Meanwhile Miss Pettigrew meets the lingerie designer Joe Blomfield (Ciarán Hinds), who seems to be attracted to her.

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is a different romantic comedy, supported by a great cast with Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, beautiful costumes and sets and magnificent music score from the 40´s. The plot is well-resolved and the film is entertaining. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Vida num Só Dia" ("The Life in Only One Day")

Details

Official Sites:

Europa Corp. [France] Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Filming Locations:

The Rivoli Ballroom, Brockley, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,490,942, 9 March 2008

Gross USA:

$12,313,694

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,724,933

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, Kudos Productions Ltd., Keylight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1