Conference bookie::movies

    I haven't seen the movie myself, but, FYI, note 5.10 mentions the
    usenet's movie database E-mail query server, which could provide you
    with the statistical info (names, dates).
    
    -b

    
    georges sand was played by judy davis.
    it's a brilliant, droll movie.
    

    And the recently more famous Hugh Grant played Chopin.  I loved the
    scene where George Sand seduces him.  Very funny.
    
    Emma Thompson also plays a very nutty acting woman.
    
    Lorna
    

    IMPROMPTU (1991) Rated PG-13, 109m.
    
    Directed by James Lapine
    Stars: Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadett Peters,
    	   Jullian Sands, and Emma Thompson
    
    
    Michael

	>I watched this movie on video two years ago and when I
	>wanted to rent it again a couple of weeks ago, I was told
	>that it was sent "back" (?) after 60 days since it only
	>appealed to a smaller audience. 
    
    I never heard of such a thing.  What a deal for the video store. 
    "Hey, I'll buy this tape, but if not enough people rent it I want
    my money back."  
    
    BTW, I found the movie very enjoyable.
    

This film was worth owning on laserdisc for the music
alone.  It's delightful.  There's a LOT of artistic 
license taken, so don't mistake the fiction for history.

Action takes place in France, mainly Paris, mid-1800s
I would guess (no good at dates).  Judy Davis plays 
author George Sand, she of the 19th century pulp novels 
and memoirs.  Sand is notorious for her many lovers,
mainly because she a) writes about them and b) she
has affected men's clothing and a male nom de plume.

She is  trying to get rid of her 
last lover, the duellist you refer to, her children's
tutor.  He's the macho, dumb stud type, who can't take
the hint and continues fly into a jealous rage when
she expresses interest in other men (or vice versa).
Thus the challenges to Alfred (duhh...  poet... name
will come to me) and to Chopin depicted in the film.
In Alfred's case, he is drunk and proceeds to shoot 
the attending physician.  In the duel with Chopin, the
pianist faints and Sand finishes the job for him.

Hugh Grant plays Frederic Chopin also referred to as
"angel fingers" by Sand.  She goes all soft and simple 
at the sound of his music, and falls in serious lust
with him, pursuing him mercilessly.

Julian Sands and Bernadette Peters play Franz Liszt and
his patron and lover (and mother of many children - 
true item), the Countess d'Ago�t (or something like
that).  They are friends to Chopin and Sand both.

Mandy Patinkin is brilliant as Sand's ex-lover and 
critic of her work, that poet Alfred.... (it hasn't
come to me yet).  He has the absolute best line in the
film:  "The horse is a critic!"

The first and better half of the film revolves around the 
invitation of this band of artists, including the painter
Eugene Delacroix (I knew I get one sooner or later)
to the country home of a socially ambitious aristrocrat
(Emma Thompson) and her bored-with-this-lot-I'm-going-
hunting husband (Anton Rodgers).

Very enjoyable, worth hunting up from another video
store. 

dcl

    
    Easynet has done wonders yet again :-)
    
    Thanks a bunch guys. You have provided some very useful information.
    When I was reading the last reply, most parts of the movie came
    back to me clearly. Now, I crave more to see it again. I definitely
    will track down a copy.
    
    Million thanks.
    
    Hi Lorna ;-)
    
    Lale
    

    Alfred, Lord Tennyson?
    
    Leslie

    Alfred de Musset?

de Musset, that's the one.  I kept getting Debussy,
and I knew THAT was wrong!