RELATIVE VALUES
UK, 2000, 87 minutes, Colour.
Julie Andrews, Edward Atterton, William Baldwin, Colin Firth, Stephen Fry, Sophie Thompson, Jean Tripplehorn, Stephanie Beecham.
Directed by Eric Stiles.
Relative Values is a later play by Noel Coward. From the 20s, Coward defined Englishness in his drawing-room comedies like Hay Fever and Private Lives. However, Coward had a wider range than this kind of play for which he is still famous. He wrote such plays as Blithe Spirit as well as The Astonished Heart. Coward also appeared in the war effort writing and co-directing In Which We Serve with David Lean and then collaborating with him for This Happy Breed and Blithe Spirit.
Coward also was a performer on stage, a prolific songwriter as well as an actor in a great number of films.
This is a soufflé, a story about snobbishness. American actress Miranda, played by Jean Tripplehorn, is moving from her boyfriend (William Baldwin) to Lord Marshwood (Edward Atterton). However, his mother, Felicity Marshwood (Julie Andrews) does not approve but is very ladylike in exhibiting her distaste for the marriage. Her companion is Moxie, played by Sophie Thompson, who, in fact, turns out to be the actress’s older sister. Stephen Fry appears as the butler. Colin Firth appears as a Noel Coward-like friend of the family and Lady Marshwood.
The film takes place over a short time, mainly at the Marshwood home, the preparations for the marriage, a meal in which many truths are exposed, a visit from the lovelorn alcoholic film star, the break-up of the marriage – and the possibilities of a happy ending, at least in a snobbish sense. The film was directed by Eric Stiles who made some serious and light dramas like The Dreaming of Joseph Lees and Miss Conception.
1.The work of Noel Coward, comedy, satire, verbal felicity, his irony, perspectives on society? The touch of the snob?
2.The title, the joke about family values?
3.The British setting, the country estate, the interiors? The film sets? The 1950s, fashions, styles? The musical score?
4.British attitudes of the 1950s, especially towards Americans, towards film, snobbery?
5.The attitudes towards the United States, the films, Hollywood stars, Miranda and Don and their performances, behaviour on set, style? Stars in real life, marriage break-ups, alcoholism?
6.The media, the focus on the marriage, the society columns? Nigel and Miranda, the fuss, the fans, the trip? The bond between the two? Miranda as a character, her career, the truth about her background, her deception? Ambition? Nigel, his snobbery? Miranda and her false story and its being exposed?
7.Julie Andrews as Felicity Marshwood, the Julie Andrews style, at home, Peter as adviser and friend, Moxie as the companion? The staff? Her views on Miranda, helping Don Lucas, advising him to stay? With the staff? Money, her manner, the meals, Moxie’s outbursts, keeping the calm? The frank discussion with Miranda, bringing Miranda and Don together? Nigel, at church, the possibility of another fiancée?
8.Peter, the Noel Coward character, his presence, observations, quips, his helping of Don Lucas?
9.Moxie, as a companion, in herself, the story of Miranda, the truth about their mother? The pretence, the drinks at the meal, her blunt outburst, Miranda’s reaction? Her wanting to leave? The discussions between the two sisters, especially the concern about the death of their mother?
10.Stephen Fry as the butler, his upstairs manner, gossip, knowledge of American films and things American? Downstairs talk, accent? His allowing Don Lucas to stay? His manipulation of situations?
11.The downstairs staff, listening in, the gossip?
12.Crises, the Girl Guides, the truth about Miranda, really in love with Don, Nigel and his having to accept reality?
13.A Noel Coward soufflé?
