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Hotel Du Lac
1986
BBC TV adaptation of the award-winning novel by Anita Brookner, which vividly brings to life the characters and atmosphere of the elegant Hotel Du Lac. It is a production of wit, charm, and beautifully observed detail filmed amid the mountains and lakes of Switzerland. Read more
| Starring | Anna Massey, Denholm Elliott, Patricia Hodge, Julia McKenzie |
|---|---|
| Director | Giles Foster |
| Genres | Drama |
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Enchanting......
A beautifully acted and observed piece of drama with both Anna Massey and Denholm Elliot particularly shining. Some of the characters may have been a little stereotypical but this is a minor quibble.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Great casting and acting
If you’re wondering is the Hotel du Lac a real hotel, well yes it is. But this story is based on one womans confusion and perhaps innocence of affairs of the heart. The cast of this production is great and, at only 80 minutes long, certainly helps the story move along much quicker. We have Patricia Hodge, Denholm Elliott, Irene Handl, Barry Foster and the main character Anna Massey ; as you can see an impressive list of figures. The story concentrates on a series of people who stay at a hotel. An old worldly middle class hotel. Googie Withers and Julia McKenzie make up a rather contrived mother and daughter set, while Irene Handl plays the doting countess. Patricia Hodge plays a wife seeking refuge from an over anxious husband who craves an heir, while Barry Foster and Denholm Elliott make up the rogues, charmers and villains of the piece.
This film uncovers the characters interactions with one another. The story is told mostly by commentary and narration by the lead character – style of voyeur. The lead character is the inimitable Anna Massey, who gained notoriety as the ward matron in Bramwell. It is Anna who makes this film her own. As you would expect, some great acting by everyone and skilled photography in this film makes it highly recommended for viewing. -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Intriguing Human Observation
Playwright Christopher Hampton's screenplay of Anita Brookner's novel is crafted with sufficent subtle layers as to unfailingly intrigue - I say 'unfailingly' because upon my third viewing of this film within five days I came upon further depths. The performances, and the cohesiveness and perfect correspondence between those performances, are superb. The boat scene, between Denholm Elliott and Anna Massey, is remarkable: a classic scene thriving on fine dialogue and splendid actorly interpretation. The novel, I hear, is somewhat depressing: but not so this film, I assure you. It's amusing and intriguing from first to last. One of the film's finest and most important performances is given by Julia McKenzie as the seemingly silly Jennifer, daughter of the controlling and somewhat hysterical Mrs. Pusey, played splendidly by Googie Withers. Look for Brookner's keen observations of the power relationships between men and women and you will not be disappointed. This is a DVD I did not want to send back!
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Very disappointing
Given the wonderful cast list, I was expecting this to be another enchanting film along the lines of Under the Tuscan Sun, but I'm afraid it just never got off the ground. The scenery was breathtaking in parts, but even this was confusing. They were talking in French, but all the bits we recognised were from the German part of Switzerland. Don't bother.
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Enchanting......
A beautifully acted and observed piece of drama with both Anna Massey and Denholm Elliot particularly shining. Some of the characters may have been a little stereotypical but this is a minor quibble.
-
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Enchanting......
A beautifully acted and observed piece of drama with both Anna Massey and Denholm Elliot particularly shining. Some of the characters may have been a little stereotypical but this is a minor quibble.
-
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Great casting and acting
If you’re wondering is the Hotel du Lac a real hotel, well yes it is. But this story is based on one womans confusion and perhaps innocence of affairs of the heart. The cast of this production is great and, at only 80 minutes long, certainly helps the story move along much quicker. We have Patricia Hodge, Denholm Elliott, Irene Handl, Barry Foster and the main character Anna Massey ; as you can see an impressive list of figures. The story concentrates on a series of people who stay at a hotel. An old worldly middle class hotel. Googie Withers and Julia McKenzie make up a rather contrived mother and daughter set, while Irene Handl plays the doting countess. Patricia Hodge plays a wife seeking refuge from an over anxious husband who craves an heir, while Barry Foster and Denholm Elliott make up the rogues, charmers and villains of the piece.
This film uncovers the characters interactions with one another. The story is told mostly by commentary and narration by the lead character – style of voyeur. The lead character is the inimitable Anna Massey, who gained notoriety as the ward matron in Bramwell. It is Anna who makes this film her own. As you would expect, some great acting by everyone and skilled photography in this film makes it highly recommended for viewing. -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Intriguing Human Observation
Playwright Christopher Hampton's screenplay of Anita Brookner's novel is crafted with sufficent subtle layers as to unfailingly intrigue - I say 'unfailingly' because upon my third viewing of this film within five days I came upon further depths. The performances, and the cohesiveness and perfect correspondence between those performances, are superb. The boat scene, between Denholm Elliott and Anna Massey, is remarkable: a classic scene thriving on fine dialogue and splendid actorly interpretation. The novel, I hear, is somewhat depressing: but not so this film, I assure you. It's amusing and intriguing from first to last. One of the film's finest and most important performances is given by Julia McKenzie as the seemingly silly Jennifer, daughter of the controlling and somewhat hysterical Mrs. Pusey, played splendidly by Googie Withers. Look for Brookner's keen observations of the power relationships between men and women and you will not be disappointed. This is a DVD I did not want to send back!
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
4 Star Hotel
This is one of my all time favourite novels and I am a huge admirer of all of Anita Brookner's work. I wondered how well this adaptation would work as I found it hard to imagine the book turned into a Tv drama. I was surprised and delighted. It was superb - the dialogue rich and entertaining and faithful to the book. I would have given this five stars but for the fact it hasn't been digitally remastered and the picture quality is rather poor - although only what you would expect from a 20 year old piece of TV.
Intelligent and well constructed. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Hotel du lac
Wonderful classic, brilliant cast, total enjoyment, not one criticism.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Very disappointing
Given the wonderful cast list, I was expecting this to be another enchanting film along the lines of Under the Tuscan Sun, but I'm afraid it just never got off the ground. The scenery was breathtaking in parts, but even this was confusing. They were talking in French, but all the bits we recognised were from the German part of Switzerland. Don't bother.
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Thoroughly enjoyable
I loved the book by Anita Brookner and equally the film is excellent too. Anna Massey is just right and she is joined by an superb cast including Denholm Elliott, Googie Withers and Patricia Hodge. Not to be missed.
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Slow but sweet
This is a lovely film for a quiet and rainy evening, or perhaps for a long winter's night.
The characters are well-drawn and well-acted, a tribute to careful casting. You sometimes want to shake a few of the characters, but that's how involved you get.
In addition to the solid performances and insightful direction, the music and scenery were superb as well. -
Outstanding film
Based on the novel by Anita Brookner, this film will not (as if often the case) disappoint anyone who has read the book. Atmospheric and beautifully filmed, it has almost everything - a touching and poignant story line, wonderful acting, even the odd flicker of humour. It is a film I can watch again and again.
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magical
This is one of my all time favourite films and one of the rare occasions when I can say I enjoyed the film more than the book. The acting is superb, the story ( revealed in stages as the film progresses) gripping and the setting of the Swiss lakeside atmospheric and beautifully filmed. There is almost everything here - gentle drama, a touch of comedy and the portrayal of the different characters is outstanding. A film I have watched again and again.
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- Hotel Du Lac
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BBC TV adaptation of the award-winning novel by Anita Brookner, which vividly brings to life the characters and atmosphere of the elegant Hotel Du Lac. It is a production of wit, charm, and ... -
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