Quartet: A film starring Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins and Maggie Smith. Directed by Dustin Hoffman. Script by Ronald Harwood.
Jean is an arrogant, ageing operatic star. She's coming to live at Beecham House, a place for retired musicians that sits in the English countryside. "Be careful with that one," an irritable Jean {Magge Smith},
says to her driver as he removes boxes from her now nearly empty apartment.
Meanwhile over at Beecham House, Reginald Paget {Tom Courtenay}, Wilfred {Billy Connolly}, Cecily Robbins {Pauline Collins} and other retirees play the usual games. They sing, play music, flirt, gossip, quarrel, grow old and relive past glories.
Jean, a once famous diva, sets 'Quartet' in motion. "Jean has arrived and shattered everything," Reginald says. True, but she also forces the other main characters to confront the truth of their lives. 'Quartet' is ably directed by Dustin Hoffman and the witty script is by Ronald Harwood who wrote the play on which this movie is based. It's a comedy and the elephant in the room for all of us ageing people, namely death, never intrudes.
The beautiful countryside sits as a lovely backdrop to this enjoyable but light movie. Then there's the mostly classical music that gives the film some lovely lyrical moments.
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