BLITHE SPIRIT

UK, 2020, 99 minutes, Colour.

Judi Dench, Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle.Dotrice, Emilia Fox, Julian Rind- Tutt, Simon Kunz.

Directed by Edward Hall.

Blithe Spirit is a play by Noel Coward. It was filmed by David Lean in the mid 1940s with Rex Harrison in the central role and a delightfully eccentric performance by Margaret Rutherford as the medium, Madame Arcati. (This was the period when David Lean directed versions of Noel Coward’s This Happy Breed and Brief Encounter.)

This 21^st-century version is an adaptation of Coward’s play, not retaining some of his witty dialogue, but elaborating further on his characters. The setting is 1937, pre-war, the touch of upstairs and downstairs with country estates and servants – and taking time off for tennis. There is also the background of the film industry, some glimpses of the facade of Pinewood Studios, some interiors on film sets, final scenes in Hollywood with references to Hitchcock, Gable and Garbo.

The plot concerns an author with writer’s block, Charles Condamine, played effectively by Dan Stevens. He has been commissioned to write a screenplay by his father-in-law. He is married to Ruth, Isla Fisher, but was married to Elvira, Leslie Mann.

There is an occasion at the local theatre where Madame Arcati is to perform, crowded theatre, ,sceptical, the performance beginning with the intrigue, a winch failing as Madame is lifted high, her falling and exposed as a fraud. She is played by Judi Dench.

The author decides that he will incorporate aspects of seances and mediums into his screenplay and arranges for a session at home – dramatic, lightning striking the house… Next day, Elvira appears, tantalises Charles, sexually provocative, critical of Ruth? There is amusing dialogue where Charles is speaking critically to Elvira whom nobody sees and it is assumed that he is talking to Ruth or to her father, leading to the father punching Charles.

The idea would be to get Madame Arcati to have another seance and send Elvira back to the other world. In the meantime, Elvira has cut the brakes on Ruth’s car and she crashes and dies.

While Charles seems to be rid of ghosts, he has finished his screenplay with Elvira’s help, seeming success in Hollywood, gossip columnist Hedda Hopper denounces him as a plagiarist (and, in fact, Elvira had written all his books). Befuddled, he is knocked over by a car – and is able to be with his wives for eternity!

The film was directed by Edward Hall, son of the celebrated Old Vic director, Peter Hall.

1. The play by Noel Coward? The 1945 version? This version moving away from Coward’s dialogue while retaining the plot?
2. 1937, British society, social life? Writers? The professional world? The touch of upstairs downstairs? The belief in the other world, seances? The musical score?
3. Charles Condomine, reputation as a novelist, writer’s block, commissioned to write a screenplay, adapting his novel? His relationship with Ruth? Five years of marriage? Love, tensions? Her background, her father as the film producer? His marriage to Elvira, memories?
4. Charles and Ruth, their lifestyle, the tennis afternoons, Bradmans? Friendship? Dr Bradman and his pills? The effect on Charles, the wild ride on the bicycle?
5. The discussion about seances? Madame Arcati and her performance, Judi Dench, appearance, clothes, manner? The full theatre? Sceptical? The Indian and the introduction, Madame appearing, the elevation, the breaking of the winch, her fall, the media, denunciations? Charles going to visit, his proposal for an evening? Payment?
6. Her coming to the house, her background, language, role as a medium, authentic, fraud? The performance, the giggling reactions? Her consciousness of the irony of the observers? The routines, the knocks, the lightning, the effect on her? Irving Berlin’s Always?
7. Elvira, her appearance, her manner, style, taunting Charles, memories of the marriage? Criticisms of Ruth? Charles and his seeing Elvira, the discussions, Ruth intruding, the dialogue and the effect on Ruth, addressed to Elvira? The continued appearances, the sexual relationship? The playing the piano, defacing the portrait? The effect on Ruth?
8. Elvira, working with Charles to complete the screenplay? The revelation of her inspiration for all the novels?
9. Charles, the pressure, Ruth’s father, going to the studio, meeting the actress, Elvira appearing, Charles and his responses, insults, Ruth’s father punching him?
10. The need to get Madame Arcati to come back, the phone calls, Ruth driving to get her, Elvira ruining the brakes, the crash?
11. Madame Arcati, going to her friend, getting the recipe for the ritual to send Elvira back? Collecting the ingredients, making the potions? Elvira and Charles wanting the ritual, not having the effect? Resuscitating Ruth?
12. Matt are Carty, resuscitating her love from the past?
13. Six months later, Hollywood, the screenplay, Charles at the studio, the references to stars and directors? Hedda Hopper and her arrival? The Mexican novels, the plagiarism? Charles, upset, knocked over, his death – and the humour of the trio to be together for eternity!