Plot
At a home for retired opera singers, the annual concert to celebrate Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents.
Release Year: 2012
Rating: 6.7/10 (679 voted)
Critic's Score: 56/100
Director:
Dustin Hoffman
Stars: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly
Storyline Cecily, Reggie, and Wilfred are in a home for retired opera singers. Every year, on October 10, there is a concert to celebrate Verdi's birthday and they take part. Jean, who used to be married to Reggie, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva, but she refuses to sing. Still, the show must go on... and it does.
Writers: Ronald Harwood, Ronald Harwood
Cast: Maggie Smith
-
Jean Horton
Tom Courtenay
-
Reginald Paget
Billy Connolly
-
Wilf Bond
Pauline Collins
-
Cissy Robson
Michael Gambon
-
Cedric Livingston
Sheridan Smith
-
Dr. Lucy Cogan
Andrew Sachs
-
Bobby Swanson
Gwyneth Jones
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Anne Langley
(as Dame Gwyneth Jones)
Trevor Peacock
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George
David Ryall
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Harry
Michael Byrne
-
Frank White
Ronnie Fox
-
Nobby
Patricia Loveland
-
Letitia Davis
Eline Powell
-
Angelique
Luke Newberry
-
Simon
Release Date: 26 December 2012
Filming Locations: Hedsor House & Park, Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Dustin Hoffman's first directorial effort since
Straight Time.
Quotes: Jean:
This is not a retirement home, it is a madhouse!
User Review
Veteran actors are the stars of this film
Rating: 7/10
After years of acting and two Oscars under his belt, Dustin Hoffman
finally takes a turn behind the camera in his directorial debut for
Quartet.
Based on Ronald Harwood's play of the same name, the film takes place
at Beecham House, a home where retired opera singers Cissy (Pauline
Collins), Reginald (Tom Courtenay) and Wilf (Billy Connolly) live.
Formally part of a quartet, every year the three take part in a concert
to celebrate composer Giuseppe Verdi's birthday. But when Jean (Maggie
Smith), the fourth member of their group arrives at the seniors' home,
things get complicated. As she is the ex-wife of fellow member
Reginald, old rivalries, theatrical temperaments and drama evidently
ensues and it becomes unclear whether or not the show will go on.
While the film never gets any more drastic than this, it is
delightfully charming to see veteran actors Smith, Courtenay, Connolly
and Collins strut their stuff. With Smith perfectly playing the
slightly narcissistic queen bee of the group, even Michael Gambon makes
an appearance as the eccentric lead coordinator of the concert. But as
we see Courtenay's Reggie harbour old feelings for his ex-wife and
Collins play the lovable confidante Cissy, it's Connolly who steals the
show as the hilariously lustful Wilf.
Although there isn't much material to let the actors stretch their
acting capabilities, Quartet is a pleasure to watch. Although it pokes
fun at old age and shows the fears of becoming a has-been, it's the
performances by the film's legendary actors that make Hoffman's
endearing tale what it is.
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