The Making of a Lady (2012)

After losing her employment, Emily accepts a proposal that will give her a secure future. But she soon finds trapped in her new family's deception.

Director:

Richard Curson Smith

Writers:

Kate Brooke, Frances Hodgson Burnett (novel)

Stars:

Lydia Wilson, Maggie Fox, Sarah Ridgeway

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lydia Wilson	...	Emily Fox Seton
Maggie Fox	...	Mrs. Parke
Sarah Ridgeway	...	Jane
Joanna Lumley	...	Lady Maria Byrne
Linus Roache	...	Lord James Walderhurst.
Souad Faress	...	Ameerah
James D'Arcy	...	Captain Alec Osborn
Hasina Haque	...	Hester Osborn
Victoria Ross	...	Annabelle Rivers
Lucy Gape	...	Agatha Slade
Malcolm Storry	...	Mr. Litton
Claire Hackett	...	Mrs. Litton

Storyline

1901:- Poor but intelligent Emily Fox Seton accepts a marriage proposal from the older Lord James Walderhurst,a widower pushed into providing an heir by his haughty aunt Maria,Emily's employer. It is an arrangement for them both - in James' case to stop the family home passing to James' cousin Alec Osborn and his Anglo-Indian wife Hester. However affection soon grows between them but James is posted to India with his regiment and the Osborns come to stay with Emily,telling her James sent them to look after her. But they have lied and Alec's alarming mood swings brought on by illness threatens Emily's pregnancy and drives the staff away. Soon Emily realises that the couple is up to no good.

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Plot Keywords:

19th century | class differences | england | victorian era | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nobre Ganância

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

FreemantleMedia,Runaway Fridge Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on two works by Frances Hodgson Burnett: "The Making of a Marchioness," a novella that ends with Emily and Lord Walderhurst's engagement, and its sequel "The Methods of Lady Walderhurst." Both works have been subsequently published together, either under name "The Making of a Marchioness" or as "Emily Fox-Seton."

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Goofs

Lady Maria's dinner for Lord Walderhurst, he is holding his soup spoon in his right hand. It is later revealed in the story that he is left-handed.

User Reviews

Excellent Film

I was also surprised by the negative reviews. I admit this movie is a bit different than most... but I was captured from the start. The first half is a wonderful romance followed up by rather a bizarre, if not particularly scary, horror type yarn. It is different but not bad.

Emily Fox Seaton is poor and works for the very haughty Lady Maria. Emily knows Lady Maria's nephew Lord James Walderhurst who is, older (50s) and looking for a wife. While doing a favor for Walderhurst and moving a particularly annoying potential bride away from him at dinner, Emily is fired by Lady Maria. Walderhurst, follows Emily home and asks her to marry him. His proposal is as romantic as nails with him basically saying... what choice do you have? Emily accepts and prepares herself for a loveless marriage and her "duty". Thankfully, the relationship unfolds in a tender and pleasing way and they come to share a steady mature love that I was rooting for.

But then, Walderhurst goes on a mission to India. Alone, pregnant, and living in a somewhat empty mansion 10 miles from the nearest village she is overjoyed when Walderhurst's cousin and his wife come to visit. Alec will inherit the estate if Walderhurst does not produce an heir and thus is not to be trusted, but Emily is lonely and wants to believe. Things get quite crazy from this point on in the "Lifetime" movie of the week vein. But it doesn't go on long and is very captivating.

I found the first half of this film very enjoyable so even if the second seems not your cup of tea I would recommend it.