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In 1890, the nine-year-old Daisy Ashford wrote a novella titled The Young Visiters, or Mister Salteena's Plan, a parody of the British upper class written with perception far belying Ashford's tender age.
The novella was published 29 years later and the BBC wisely made it into this charmingly funny film 112 years after it was written.
Mr. Alfred Salteena (Jim Broadbent), a bumbling ironmonger, is a lonely soul with ambitions of finding a lovely and cultured wife. When, by chance, he first sees the delightful Ethel Montecue (Lyndsey Marshal) aboard a train with her mother (Anne Reid), Salteena is immediately smitten. Ethel's mother, an unabashed social climber who thinks Salteena really could introduce Ethel to London society, allows Ethel to visit Salteena -- and she arrives with full steamer trunk, baggage and hat boxes for a what is presumed to be a whirlwind of parties and gaieties.
The awkward and naive Salteena, in the meantime, has made contact with someone he had only just met briefly some time ago -- a certain Lord Bernard Clark (Hugh Laurie) -- and weasels an invitation for himself and Ethel to visit Clark at his distant castle. Salteena is hoping to therefore impress and win over the lovely Ethel as he shows her how well connected he is.
After long train and carriage rides, Salteena and Ethel arrive to find that Clark is basically a recluse with no real social connections, but in the process, Salteena realizes how oafish he is and seeks counsel from Clark about becoming well mannered and aristocratic so he can propose to Ethel properly and assure that he will be deemed worthy of her.
Clark assures Salteena that he will look after Ethel whilst Salteena goes off to The Crystal Palace, somewhat of a warehouse-hotel-castle for the idle gentry, to learn cultured manners from the Earl of Clincham (Bill Nighy), a pompous sot. Salteena takes classes on hat doffing, managing menials, correct cutlery, and all things aristocratic, and also has the opportunity to meet the Prince of "Whales," bonnie Prince Charles (Simon Russell Beale) with a wee teeny-tiny crown on his big fat head.
Meanwhile, the flirtatious Ethel, who really wants to be a duchess, is wooed by the lusting Clark who seeks to impress her with a whirlwind of London society events.
Geoffrey Palmer is rich in his role as Clark's butler Minnit. Sally Hawkins is perfect as Salteena's long-suffering maid Rosalind. Procuro (Adam Godley) and maid Bessy Topp (Sophie Thompson, Emma's sister) are menials at The Crystal Palace.
Directed with great humor by David Yates.
My personal rating: A-
The novella was published 29 years later and the BBC wisely made it into this charmingly funny film 112 years after it was written.
Mr. Alfred Salteena (Jim Broadbent), a bumbling ironmonger, is a lonely soul with ambitions of finding a lovely and cultured wife. When, by chance, he first sees the delightful Ethel Montecue (Lyndsey Marshal) aboard a train with her mother (Anne Reid), Salteena is immediately smitten. Ethel's mother, an unabashed social climber who thinks Salteena really could introduce Ethel to London society, allows Ethel to visit Salteena -- and she arrives with full steamer trunk, baggage and hat boxes for a what is presumed to be a whirlwind of parties and gaieties.
The awkward and naive Salteena, in the meantime, has made contact with someone he had only just met briefly some time ago -- a certain Lord Bernard Clark (Hugh Laurie) -- and weasels an invitation for himself and Ethel to visit Clark at his distant castle. Salteena is hoping to therefore impress and win over the lovely Ethel as he shows her how well connected he is.
After long train and carriage rides, Salteena and Ethel arrive to find that Clark is basically a recluse with no real social connections, but in the process, Salteena realizes how oafish he is and seeks counsel from Clark about becoming well mannered and aristocratic so he can propose to Ethel properly and assure that he will be deemed worthy of her.
Clark assures Salteena that he will look after Ethel whilst Salteena goes off to The Crystal Palace, somewhat of a warehouse-hotel-castle for the idle gentry, to learn cultured manners from the Earl of Clincham (Bill Nighy), a pompous sot. Salteena takes classes on hat doffing, managing menials, correct cutlery, and all things aristocratic, and also has the opportunity to meet the Prince of "Whales," bonnie Prince Charles (Simon Russell Beale) with a wee teeny-tiny crown on his big fat head.
Meanwhile, the flirtatious Ethel, who really wants to be a duchess, is wooed by the lusting Clark who seeks to impress her with a whirlwind of London society events.
Geoffrey Palmer is rich in his role as Clark's butler Minnit. Sally Hawkins is perfect as Salteena's long-suffering maid Rosalind. Procuro (Adam Godley) and maid Bessy Topp (Sophie Thompson, Emma's sister) are menials at The Crystal Palace.
Directed with great humor by David Yates.
My personal rating: A-
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