Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Miss Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, loses yet another position and finds herself with no money and nowhere to go. In desperation she takes a client's address from the employment agency and presents herself at the door of Delysia LaFosse, a glamorous American actress and singer. Delysia's life is a tangle of romantic and professional indecision, and she mistakes the visitor for a social secretary. Before long Guinevere is managing both her employer's engagements and her tangled love life, moving through a London of upscale shops, clubs and parties on the eve of the Second World War.

The film was directed by Bharat Nalluri, whose earlier credits include The Crow: Salvation, and who went on to make Spooks: The Greater Good and The Man Who Invented Christmas. David Magee and Simon Beaufoy wrote the screenplay. Frances McDormand plays Guinevere, with Amy Adams as Delysia and supporting turns from Lee Pace, Ciarán Hinds, Shirley Henderson and Mark Strong. The production was mounted by Focus Features, Shine Pictures, Kudos and Twins Financing.

Released in March 2008, the film runs 92 minutes and blends comedy, drama and romance. It earned about 17 million dollars worldwide, a modest return on what appears to have been a small-scale production. On TMDB it holds a rating of 6.8 out of 10 from roughly 430 votes, indicating a generally favourable but not overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from viewers.