Quartet
Short description
Quartet is a British comedy-drama set in Beecham House, a retirement home in the English countryside for former opera singers and musicians. Each year the residents stage a fundraising concert to mark Giuseppe Verdi's birthday, and this year's gala is meant to centre on a reunion of four performers who once sang together as a celebrated quartet. The arrival of Jean Horton, a soprano who was once married to her colleague Reginald Paget, unsettles the household: she still carries herself like a star and refuses to take part. Reginald, Wilfred Bond and Cissy Robson try to persuade her to join them, while past ambitions and old grievances resurface among the residents.
The film was directed by Dustin Hoffman, working from a screenplay by Ronald Harwood, and produced by Finola Dwyer and Stewart Mackinnon. It stars Maggie Smith as Jean, Tom Courtenay as Reginald, Billy Connolly as Wilf, Pauline Collins as Cissy, Michael Gambon as Cedric Livingston and Sheridan Smith as Dr. Lucy Cogan. Made for about 11 million USD, it took roughly 60 million USD worldwide, a strong return on its budget.
On IMDb it holds 6.8/10 from around 22,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6.5/10 from some 396 votes. A critics' rating of 6.6/10 from 143 reviews places it close to the audience scores. It runs 98 minutes.
What's left behind the scenes
- This was Dustin Hoffman's first completed project as a director. In 1978, he began directing the film 'Straight Time' (1978), but after a few days decided it was too difficult to be both an actor and a director on the same project, and invited Ulu Grosbard to take on the role of director.
- Maggie Smith had already starred in a film titled 'Quartet' (1981). However, the only similarity between these two films is the title and Smith herself.
- Most of the performers in supporting roles were former professional musicians.
- The main actors were specifically trained in singing, but the scene where they sing Giuseppe Verdi's 'Rigoletto' was ultimately cut from the film.
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