Directed by:
David MametCinematography:
Benoît DelhommeComposer:
Alaric JansCast:
Nigel Hawthorne, Jeremy Northam, Rebecca Pidgeon, Gemma Jones, Colin Stinton, Sara Stewart, Neil North, Matthew Pidgeon, Guy Edwards, Chris Porter (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
England, 1912. The Winslow family arrives home from church in time for a carefully orchestrated meeting between Arthur Winslow, the proud patriarch, and John Watherstone, the young man set to marry Arthur's daughter Catherine, an ardent suffragette. As plans are made for their lives together, Arthur, his wife Grace, Catherine, her eldest brother Dickie, John, and Desmond Curry, the family lawyer and Catherine's admirer, drink Madeira in celebration of the union. Just after the family toasts, Arthur discovers that his youngest son, Ronnie, is back early from the Naval College at Osbourne--dismissed for stealing a five shilling postal note. Arthur asks his son if he is guilty, explaining "If you tell me a lie, I shall know it, because a lie between you and me can't be hidden." Ronnie swears that he is innocent. Arthur dedicates himself to clearing his son of the charges. After obtaining no satisfaction from the school, he decides to retain the well known attorney, Sir Robert Morton. Since he is a conservative opposed to women's suffrage, Catherine is opposed to hiring Morton. In Sir Robert's chambers Desmond explains their predicament: the legal assumption is that the Admiralty and the Crown can do no wrong and cannot be sued. However, by a matter of grace, such a petition can be granted by the Attorney General, allowing the case to come to court. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (1)
Nigel Hawthorne has always been a great actor. To play a politician faithfully has always required some balls. But here he is old, so he plays a caring dad who wants to uncover the truth. The truth is, as is usually the case, somewhere in the middle. Moreover, the plot is a classical British story adapted from a theater play. Quite unnecessarily, in my opinion, just like with many similar films. A boring yet well-crafted film with good acting performances.
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