Quartet (2012); comedy drama film review

British poster artwork for the comedy drama Quartet.

Favourable Foursome by Linh

The film Quartet is receiving the most attention for its brilliant British leading cast members but the director is equally interesting. Two-time Academy award winner Dustin Hoffman (Kung Fu Panda 3, Little Fockers) was an uncredited co-director for the 1978 film Straight Time in which he also starred, and Quartet is his debut sole-directed film. Hoffman has cleverly chosen a top cast and an interesting film project to work with; he indicated in recent interviews that he is keen to continue directing if the right script came along.

OPERATIC OVATION: Jean (Maggie Smith) is delighted by her reception at Beecham House in the film Quartet. Image: The Weinstein Company, Transmission Films.

The cast consists of the crème de la crème of British acting royalty that includes Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins and Michael Gambon. Comedian and actor Billy Connolly reportedly replaced Albert Finney, who had to pull out of the film due to illness. Hoffman may have struck cinematic gold with his first film, which is an adaptation of Ronald Harwood’s stage production of the same name. This film is also inspired by the 1984 documentary film Il Bacio Di Tosca - Tosca’s Kiss, which features interviews with several operatic stars living in a retirement home for artists, that was founded by Romantic composer Giuseppe Verdi in 1896. Verdi’s operas and music, along with music from other musicians of the Romantic period, form an integral aspect of the film’s storyline and music soundtrack.

Dario Marianelli’s original score superbly matches the emotional expression heard in Verdi’s music. Marianelli’s music complements the warm and exquisite atmosphere of the retirement home and creates a lovely musical bridge between the songs and music performed by the characters in the film.

FINDING FUNDS: Cedric (Michael Gambon) and Reggie (Tom Courtenay) discuss the Verdi concert as a fundraiser for Beecham House in the film Quartet. Image: The Weinstein Company, Transmission Films.

Quartet is set in the distinguished Beecham House, a home for retired classical musicians and opera singers, which is in financial trouble and could close in several months. The residents, led by Cedric (Michael Gambon), decide to use the annual Verdi concert that celebrates Verdi’s birthday, as a benefit gala. The resident opera singers, Reggie (Tom Courtenay), Wilfred (Billy Connolly) and Cissy (Pauline Collins) are excited as always, but are distracted by news that a new resident will be arriving soon. When Jean (Maggie Smith) enters the home, the residents who still remember her, give her a standing ovation, despite Jean not having sung for many decades. 

Jean’s arrival catches Reggie off-guard and he expresses his annoyance that the House Manager Lucy Cogan (Sheridan Smith) did not tell him Jean was coming to live at Beecham House. We soon find out that Jean and Reggie were married once, but Jean’s infidelity ended their marriage and her career. When Cedric decides that Reggie, Jean, Cissy and Wilfred should sing the famous quartet from Verdi’s opera Rigoletto, it is up to Reggie, Cissy and Wilfred to put aside past heartbreaks and conflicts to persuade Jean to sing again.

FAMILIAR FRIENDS: Reggie (Tom Courtenay), Jean (Maggie Smith), Cissy (Pauline Collins and Wilfred (Billy Connolly) share a meal and memories of the good times in the film Quartet. Image: The Weinstein Company, Transmission Films.

Quartet is wonderfully performed, well-scripted, the lead cast and the supporting cast are tremendous. The four lead actors lip synced to their singing, but the rest of the cast actually do their own singing, as they are real-life opera singers and musicians. Dame Gwyneth Jones is a Welsh soprano and she plays the posh, ice queen Ann Langley, who was a rival soprano to Maggie Smith’s character Jean. Other musicians and singers get the chance to shine as their characters sing arias or musical theatre pieces from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas or other Verdi operas. As the end credits roll, photographs of the singers and musicians appear; one showing an image of them in the film next to another image of them at the height of their career.

Throughout the film, there are many moments of singing rehearsals, orchestral sessions and young people being taught to play classical music. Beecham House is more than a retirement home; it is also used for educating young people about classical music and opera singing, which keeps the residents of Beecham House mentally active and happy.

CARING CONFIDANTE: Jean (Maggie Smith) confides in  Cissy (Pauline Collins) about her infidelity that broke Reggie's heart in the film Quartet. Image: The Weinstein Company, Transmission Films.

Highlights of the film include the brief moments of comic interludes and witty lines from Billy Connolly as the flirtatious Wilfred; Pauline Collins is at her comic best as an endearing but ditzy Cissy who never goes anywhere without her bag; Tom Courtenay is in fine form as Reggie who still loves Jean after decades of not seeing her; and Maggie Smith excels at her role of the opera diva and quick tempered Jean. However, the film’s end performances at the benefit gala are worth the wait as they are fabulous and fun.

ROUGH REUNION: Reggie (Tom Courtenay) and Jean (Maggie Smith) find it awkward to reunite after many decades apart in the film Quartet. Image: The Weinstein Company, Transmission Films.

Quartet is a small film with a big heart that many people of all ages can warm to and enjoy. The film shows the realities of growing old such as death, dementia and disease but also the joys of sharing skills, experience and wisdom with the young. There are very few films about senior citizens in love and still living their lives to the fullest while in a retirement home together. American essayist/journalist/satirist Henry Louis Mencken said, “A home is not a mere transient shelter; its essence lies in … the personalities of the people who live in it.” This rings true for Beecham House whose residents fill the home with laughter, love, friendships and music.

REPRISING RIGOLETTO: Wilfred (Billy Connolly), Jean (Maggie Smith), Reggie (Tom Courtenay) and Cissy (Pauline Collins) perform the quartet from Verdi's opera Rigoletto in the film Quartet. Image: The Weinstein Company, Transmission Films.

Director: Dustin Hoffman

Writer: Ronald Harwood (screenplay and stage play)

Cast: Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins, Michael Gambon, Sheridan Smith, Trevor Peacock, Andrew Sachs, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Sarah Crowden, Luke Newberry, Patricia Loveland, Eline Powell, David Ryall, Colin Bradbury, Shola Adewusi, Jumayn Hunter, Ronnie Fox, Kent Olesen, Denis Khoroshko

Producers: Christoph Daniel, Marc Schmidheiny, Dario Suter, Finola Dwyer, Christian Baute, Stewart MacKinnon, Nick O’Hagan

Cinematographer: John de Borman

Original Music Composer: Dario Marianelli

Film Editor: Barney Pilling

Production: Andrew McAlpine (Production Designer), Ben Smith (Art Director),  Sarah Whittle (Set Decorator)

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Reference:

*Mencken, Henry Louis, (1926). Prejudices - Fifth series. London: Octagon Press, 1976.