Finding herself penniless after her art-dealer husband Stephan is convicted of theft, Marya Zelli accepts the hospitality of a strange couple, H.J. and Lois Heidler, who let her live in their home.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Isabelle Adjani | ... |
Marya / Stephan's Wife
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| Maggie Smith | ... |
Lois / H.J.'s Wife
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| Alan Bates | ... |
H.J. / Lois' Husband
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| Anthony Higgins | ... |
Stephan / Marya's Husband
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| Suzanne Flon | ... |
Mme. Hautchamp / Edouard's Wife
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Sébastien Floche | ... |
Edouard
(as Sebastien Floche)
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Daniel Chatto | ... |
Guy
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Paulita Sedgwick | ... |
Esther
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| Sheila Gish | ... |
Anna
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| Bernice Stegers | ... |
Miss Nicholson
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Isabelle Canto da Maya | ... |
Cri-Cri
(as Isabelle Canto Da Maya)
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François Viaur | ... |
Lefranc
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Wiley Wood | ... |
Cairn / Marya's Friend
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Dino Zanghi | ... |
Prison Guard
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Michel Such | ... |
Prison Guard
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Jean-Pierre Dravel | ... |
Prison Guard
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| Annie Noël | ... |
Maid
(as Annie Noel)
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Maurice Ribot | ... |
Pianist
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| Pierre Julien | ... |
Impresario
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Humbert Balsan | ... |
Impresario's Friend
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Serge Marquand | ... |
Night Club Owner
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| Armelia McQueen | ... |
Night Club Singer
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| Muriel Montossé | ... |
Marjorie
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| Pierre Clémenti | ... |
Pornographer
(as Pierre Clementi)
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| Caroline Loeb | ... |
Nun
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Jeffrey Kime | ... |
James
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Hélène Shirley | ... |
Adriana
(as Shirley Allan)
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Anne-Marie Brissonière | ... |
Les Oiseaux
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Marie-France De Bourges | ... |
Les Oiseaux
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Brigitte Hermetz | ... |
Les Oiseaux
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Josine Comellas | ... |
Café Patronne
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Romain Brémond | ... |
Youth
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Arlette Spetebroot | ... |
Drowned Girl
(as Arlette Spetelbroot)
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| Monique Mauclair | ... |
Hotel Concierge
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| Daniel Mesguich | ... |
Schlamovitz
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Virginie Thévenet | ... |
Madmoiselle Chardin
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Bonnafet Tarbouriech | ... |
Prison Guard (uncredited)
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Directed by
| James Ivory | ||
Written by
| Jean Rhys | ... | (novel) |
| Ruth Prawer Jhabvala | ... | (screenplay) |
| Michel Maingois | ... | (French dialogue) |
| James Ivory | ... | (screenplay) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Humbert Balsan | ... | associate producer |
| Roger Corman | ... | distribution producer (uncredited) |
| Connie Kaiserman | ... | associate producer |
| Jean-Pierre Mahot | ... | producer (as Jean-Pierre Mahot de la Querantonnais) |
| Ismail Merchant | ... | producer |
Music by
| Richard Robbins | ||
Cinematography by
| Pierre Lhomme | ||
Editing by
| Humphrey Dixon | ||
Editorial Department
| Mark Potter Jr. | ... | first assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Jean-Jacques Caziot | ||
Costume Design by
| Judy Moorcroft | ||
Makeup Department
| Pierre Berroyer | ... | hair stylist (as Jean-Pierre Berroyer) |
| Danielle Jacquillard | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Ken Lintott | ... | makeup artist (as Kenneth Lintott) |
| Tommie Manderson | ... | makeup artist (as Tommy Manderson) |
| Marie-Madeleine Paris | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Christiane Sauvage | ... | assistant makeup artist (as Christine Sauvage) |
Production Management
| Jean de Trégomain | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Alain Depardieu | ... | unit manager |
| Jean-Marc Deschamps | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Fabien Dufour | ... | assistant unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Hugues de Laugardière | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Robert Christidès | ... | set dresser |
| Jean-Michel Hugon | ... | assistant art director |
| Alain Laude | ... | prop man |
Sound Department
| Bernard Bats | ... | sound |
| Alan Coddington | ... | sound assistant |
| Michel Kharat | ... | boom operator |
| Richard King | ... | sound re-recordist |
| David Renton | ... | sound editor |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Pierre Abraham | ... | gaffer |
| Jacques Barbazange | ... | grip |
| Philippe Brun | ... | camera operator |
| Alain Dreze | ... | grip |
| Eric Dumage | ... | focus puller |
| Michel Gonckel | ... | electrician |
| Jean-Yves Le Poulain | ... | assistant camera (as Jean-Yves De Poulain) |
| Gilles Lienard | ... | electrician |
| Alain Masseron | ... | crane operator: Louma crane |
| Juan Quirno | ... | still photographer |
| André Thiéry | ... | key grip |
Casting Department
| Serge Marquand | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Keith Morton | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Renée Renard | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Jacques Quinternet | ... | location scout |
Music Department
| Al Aarons | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Rudy Collins | ... | musician: drums |
| Vic Flick | ... | conductor / music arranger |
| Allen Jackson | ... | musician: bass |
| J. Leonard Oxley | ... | conductor / musician: piano |
| Benny Powell | ... | musician: trombone |
| John Richards | ... | music recordist |
| Jerome Richardson | ... | musician: tenor sax and clarinet |
| Marshal Royal | ... | musician: alto sax and clarinet (as Marshall Royal) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Jane Buck | ... | script girl |
Additional Crew
| Elizabeth Aldrich | ... | choreographer |
| Peter Ansin | ... | assistant to producers |
| Angelique Armand-Delille | ... | picture assistant |
| Marta Carliski | ... | press |
| Daniel Champagnon | ... | production accountant |
| Jean De Gramont | ... | portraits |
| Maurice Defait | ... | groupman |
| Brigitte Faure | ... | production accountant |
| Jacques Fontanier | ... | assistant to director (as Jacques Fontannier) |
| François Marcepoil | ... | portraits |
| Serge Meynard | ... | assistant to director |
| Hubert Niogret | ... | production controller |
| Fiona O'Connor | ... | dialogue coach |
| Jennifer Patrick | ... | dialogue coach |
| Sylvie Richez | ... | production secretary |
Production Companies
- Merchant Ivory Productions (presents)
- Lyric International (presents)
- National Film Trustee Company (in copyright registry)
Distributors
- Gaumont (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- New World Pictures (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox India (1982) (India) (theatrical) (as Twentieth Century Fox Corp.) (Bombay)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Norditalia Cinematografica (1983) (Italy) (theatrical)
- CBS / Fox Video (1987) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Cable Hogue Co. (1988) (Japan) (theatrical) (subtitled) (censored: also bit cut)
- Hunter Vídeo (1989) (Brazil) (VHS)
- Odyssey Video (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Cecchi Gori Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
- Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- MK2 Éditions (2007) (France) (DVD)
- Cohen Media Group (2015) (United States)
- Cohen Film Collection (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray) (newly restored version)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cosprop (costumes)
- World Wide Sound (sound re-recording)
- The Music Centre (music recording)
- Studio Davout (music recording)
- Polydor (soundtrack: Music from the Film on)
- Panavision France (camera and lenses)
- Ciné Lumières de Paris (electrical equipment)
- Copra Films (sound equipment)
- GTC Joinville (laboratory)
- Boeuf sur le Toit, Le (special thanks)
- Cartier (special thanks)
- Freeway CAM B.V. (collection account management)
- Gramavision Records (soundtrack: US)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In 1927 Paris, following the conviction of her art-dealer husband Stephan Zelli (Anthony Higgins) for theft for which he was handed a one-year prison sentence, Marya Zelli (Isabelle Adjani), originally from West India, moves in with her acquaintances, expatriate Brits H.J. (Sir Alan Bates) and Lois Heidler (Dame Maggie Smith). Marya knows that H.J. in particular has more in mind than just providing her lodging out of the goodness of his heart. From behind bars, Stephan encourages Marya to move in with them, not knowing H.J.'s intentions. Marya agrees in part because she, a foreigner, cannot get work and would become destitute otherwise. She learns that she is the latest in a long line of lodgers, and she also learns that H.J. and Lois' marriage is not all that it appears on the surface. The Heidlers' hold on Marya becomes stronger when they convince her that Stephan has no money--and no future in France after his release. Their collective lives become more complicated when Stephan is released from jail and tries to figure out what to do with his life to regain the high standard of living to which he became accustomed. Written by Huggo |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Writer and Director James Ivory initially resisted the casting of Dame Maggie Smith in this movie. Although he did not think her appropriate for the role, despite her talent, she was cast by Producer Ismail Merchant over Ivory's objections. Ivory later conceded, "it was one of the most wonderful things that ever happened to me." See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Rollover, Quartet, My Dinner with Andre, Reds (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The 509 See more » |
| Quotes |
Marya 'Mado' Zelli:
I'm so scared to be unhappy. See more » |