A comedy of discriminating taste and dirty little secrets. In 1952 England, Nigel, the Earl of Marshwood, woos Hollywood star Miranda, upsetting both Nigel's mother, Countess Felicity, and Miranda's former love fellow Hollywood star Don. Right before the engagement party at Marshwood, Moxie, the Countess's personal maid and best friend, reveals that Miranda is her estranged sister. Crestwell, the Countess's butler, devises a plan - but an inebriated Don's arrival at Marshwood to talk to Miranda causes all chaos to break loose.
Acting
Julie Andrews weaponizing politeness as social warfare.
Writing
Stephen Fry's butler delivers every line like a velvet dagger.
Costume
Hollywood glamour crashing into English country house tweed.
Director
Eric Styles
Julie Andrews
Felicity Marshwood
Edward Atterton
Nigel Marshwood
William Baldwin
Don Lucas
Colin Firth
Peter Ingleton
Stephen Fry
Frederick Crestwell
Sophie Thompson
Dora Moxton 'Moxie'
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Miranda Frayle / Freda Birch
Stephanie Beacham
Elizabeth
Charles Edwards
Phillip Bateman-Tobias
Michael Higgs
Film Director
David Schaal
The Baddie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sophie Thompson (Moxie) is Emma Thompson's sister, making this a stealth family affair behind the sister-plot.
This adapts Noël Coward's 1951 play—note how the film softens Coward's sharper class satire for broader appeal.
US
GB
