The Chaperone (2018 film)

2018 film directed by Michael Engler

The Chaperone

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Michael Engler
Written by| Julian Fellowes
Produced by|

* Kelly Carmichael
* Greg Clark
* Rose Ganguzza
* Victoria Hill
* Elizabeth McGovern
* Luca Scalisi

Starring|

* Haley Lu Richardson
* Miranda Otto
* Elizabeth McGovern
* Blythe Danner
* Campbell Scott
* Géza Röhrig
* Victoria Hill

Cinematography| Nick Remy Matthews
Edited by| Sofía Subercaseaux
Music by| Marcelo Zarvos

Production
companies

* Fibonacci Films
* 39 Steps
* Anonymous Content
* Rose Pictures
* Masterpiece
* Hamilton Entertainment

Distributed by| PBS Distribution

Release dates

* September 23, 2018 (2018-09-23) (LAFF)
* March 29, 2019 (2019-03-29) (United States)

Running time

| 103 minutes[1]
Country| United States
Language| English
Box office| $1.5 million[2]

The Chaperone is a 2018 period drama film, directed by Michael Engler, with a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, from the novel by Laura Moriarty. It stars Elizabeth McGovern, Haley Lu Richardson, Miranda Otto, Blythe Danner, Campbell Scott, Géza Röhrig and Victoria Hill.

It had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 23, 2018. It was released on March 29, 2019, by PBS Distribution.

## Plot

[edit]

In 1922 teen Louise Brooks, invited to study dance at the Denishawn school in NYC, needs a chaperone to go. Fellow Wichita, KS resident, middle-aged Norma Carlisle, volunteers after watching her recital.

Norma's husband is wary about it, but their sons support her. At the rail station, the couple have a strained goodbye. Louise's father emphasizes her stay in NYC depends on Norma.

On their journey, Norma and Louise discover the younger questions everything, while the other conforms. Norma dreams about her childhood train trip from NYC to her adoptive family in Kansas. Waking alone, she finds Louise dining with a young man and his uncle. Discussing prohibition, Norma is the only one supporting it.

Later, in their cabin, Norma reminds Louise to avoid being with men unaccompanied, as men only marry 'untouched' women, which Louise sees as extremely antiquated. As Norma's adoptive parents died when she was a teen, she married soon afterwards. Louise senses Norma's unhappiness, although she denies it.

In NYC, Louise loves the noise and bustle, but Norma is uncomfortable. Although the younger woman wants to explore, the other insists they stay in, as class starts early. After walking Louise to class, Norma meets Floyd who works there while a Columbia student. When she shows him a 15th Street address, he warns her the area is dangerous.

The young dancers at Denishawn school are reminded to not drink or smoke, to be always perceived as pure and untarnished. Meanwhile, Norma, seeking to contact her birth mother, finds her old nun-run orphanage, but is turned away. Another flashback of Mr. Carlisle reveals his infidelity.

After Louise becomes the lead, Norma finds her flirting with Floyd in the diner. When the older woman complains of her corset, Louise proclaims she will never wear one. Norma follows Louise's example, flirting with the orphanage's handyman Joseph Schmidt to access to her file. He explains over tea that he lost custody of his daughter Greta when her mother died while he was briefly imprisoned after WWI. Broke, Joseph works there to stay close. Norma convinces him to let her into the office one day when everyone is at mass.

Norma finds a letter from Mary O'Dell in the file with a MA address, requesting updates of her daughter. Thankful, she offers to pay Joseph, but he refuses. Louise notices Norma's good mood, who says she is writing an old friend to visit.

Denishawn teacher Ted often singles Louise out, as he sees her as a rising star. His partner and wife Ms. St. Denis suggests he curb his enthusiasm.

A theatre outing opens Norma's eyes, surprised the audience is not segregated. As they leave the theatre later, they are both enthralled. Norma now sees NYC differently; now accustomed to the hustle and bustle, she suspects Wichita will seem dull on her return. She apologizes for her previous attitude, explaining she married her lawyer Mr. Carlisle when she was orphaned again at 16.

When Norma finds Louise's very negative postcard about her, she does not yell, as there is no point. Another flashback reveals her husband had married her to stifle his homosexuality, but was unsuccessful. Norma threw him out.

Joseph is pleased Norma meets him in Central Park to help find her roots. She gets a letter from her mother Mary while Louise is performing in Philadelphia. Excited, Norma meets her, only to find Mary was anxious to leave her and wants no further contact.

After Philly, Norma discovers Louise is being considered for Denishawn's dance troupe, which includes living in a boarding house. Miss Ruth reminds Norma the offer is contingent upon Denishawn's positive aesthetic code.

Louise goes out celebrating with Floyd, so Norma and Joseph seeK her out. The drunk dancer vomits, then reveals an older Wichita man took her virginity. Hungover in the morning, Louise wants to call in sick, but Norma insists she go. When Floyd expresses remorse, Norma suggests he forget Louise.

In another flashback, Mr. Carlisle explains that if they divorced because of his homosexuality, he would be murdered and she humiliated. After Louise stays the night with Joseph at the orphanage, a nun sees her leave. Joseph and Greta appear at the apartment. Since Louise is moving in with the troupe and Norma is returning to Wichita, she proposes they come along and pretend Joseph is her brother.

In Wichita 20 years later, Norma finds Louise hiding at her parents' as her career has tanked. Thanking her for her past help, she gives her $100 to start over in NYC.

Louise eventually reinvents herself, becoming a best-selling writer. Two of her silent films can still be found today.

## Cast

[edit]

* Elizabeth McGovern as Norma (The Chaperone)
* Haley Lu Richardson as Louise Brooks
* Miranda Otto as Ruth St. Denis
* Blythe Danner as Mary O'Dell
* Campbell Scott as Alan Carlisle
* Géza Röhrig as Joseph
* Victoria Hill as Myra Brooks
* Matt McGrath as Raymond
* Robert Fairchild as Ted Shawn
* Tyler Weaks as Howard Carlisle
* Kate Grimes as Ms. Burton
* Andrew Burnap as Floyd
* Bill Hoag as Jack
* Ellen Toland as Greta
* George Hampe as Earl Carlisle
* Sean Hudock as Norman Ross
* Vinson German as Music Hall Man
* Becky Ann Baker as Lois

## Production

[edit]

In February 2013, it was announced Elizabeth McGovern would star in the film, with Simon Curtis directing from a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, based upon the novel by Laura Moriarty, with McGovern, Curtis, Eli Selden, and Adam Shulman producing under their Anonymous Content banner. Fox Searchlight Pictures would distribute the film.[3] In May 2017, it was announced Michael Engler would direct the film, instead of Curtis, who remained as executive producer on the film. Masterpiece, Altus Media, and Rose Pictures produced the film, with PBS Distribution distributing it. The film received a theatrical release prior to airing on PBS.[4][5] Victoria Hill, Greg Clark, Luca Scalisi, Rose Ganguzza, Kelly Carmichael and Gary Hamilton also served as producers on the film.[6]

### Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in August 2017.[7]

## Release

[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 23, 2018.[8] It was released on March 29, 2019.[9] On PBS, the film premiered on November 24, 2019 (part of Masterpiece Classic).[10]

## Critical reception

[edit]

The Chaperone holds a 47% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 58 reviews, with an average of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Chaperone is inspired by a potentially interesting real-life story, but loses its sharpest and timeliest angles in the telling."[11] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 48 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Chaperone". Los Angeles Film Festival. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
2. ^ "The Chaperone". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (1 February 2013). "Fox Searchlight Sets Simon Curtis-Directed 'The Chaperone' With 'Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
4. ^ Lodderhose, Diana (16 May 2017). "'Downton Abbey' Writer Julian Fellowes & Elizabeth McGovern Reunite For 'The Chaperone' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
5. ^ "Elizabeth McGovern Returns to MASTERPIECE in The Chaperone". pbs.org. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
6. ^ McNary, Dave (1 August 2017). "Haley Lu Richardson Joins Elizabeth McGovern's PBS Movie 'The Chaperone'". Variety. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
7. ^ "Production begins on 'The Chaperone' with Elizabeth McGovern". screendaily.com. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
8. ^ Day-Ramos, Dino (15 August 2018). "Music Documentary 'Echo In The Canyon' Set As LA Film Festival Opener". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
9. ^ Hasty, Katie (30 December 2018). "Here's every 2019 movie release date so far". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
10. ^ Baugher, Lacy (30 October 2019). "Elizabeth McGovern Film 'The Chaperone' to Air on Masterpiece This November". Telly Visions. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
11. ^ "The Chaperone (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
12. ^ "The Chaperone". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 July 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Film portal

* The Chaperone at IMDb
* The Chaperone at Box Office Mojo
* The Chaperone at Rotten Tomatoes
* The Chaperone at Metacritic

* v
* t
* e

Works written by Julian Fellowes

Films|

* Gosford Park (2001)
* Vanity Fair (2004)
* Piccadilly Jim (2004)
* Separate Lies (2005, also directed)
* From Time to Time (2009, also directed)
* The Young Victoria (2009)
* The Tourist (2010)
* Romeo & Juliet (2013)
* Crooked House (2017)
* The Chaperone (2018)
* Downton Abbey (2019)
* Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
* Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (TBA)

TV series|

* Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder (2004–2005)
* Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
* Titanic (2012)
* Doctor Thorne (2016)
* The English Game (2020)
* Belgravia (2020)
* The Gilded Age (2022–present)

Stage|

* Mary Poppins (2004)
* School of Rock (2015)
* Half a Sixpence (2016)
* The Wind in the Willows (2016)

Novels|

* Snobs (2004)
* Past Imperfect (2008)

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