The Remains of the Day – 1993 | 138 mins | Drama, Romance | Colour

Plot Synopsis

An extraordinary period drama of blind emotion and repressed love from the producing-directing-writing team of Ismail Merchant, James Ivory, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. The Remains of the Day achieved an astounding 8 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress.

Anthony Hopkins is James Stevens, a dedicated yet repressed English butler now employed by Congressman Lewis (Christopher Reeve), the new American owner of Darlington Hall after the death of Lord Darlington. Stevens has spent the best part of his working life serving Lord Darlington (James Fox), the host of many prestigious international conferences in the 1930s. It was only when war broke out in 1939, that Lord Darlington’s involvement and complacency with the Nazi party are uncovered.

Now, twenty years later, Stevens realises that his unquestioning faith and dedication to duty were misplaced, and cost him dearly in his own personal life. Over several years, he developed an intense affection for the Estate’s attractive young housekeeper, Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), but she was frustrated to realise that he would not allow himself to reciprocate her feelings. Due to his unwavering sense of duty, Stevens denied his emotions – and eventually drove away the one woman he loved.

Stevens suggests that the retired Mr Lewis engage the former housekeeper, Miss Kenton, to a position at the Estate, Lewis responds by light-heartedly inquiring if Miss Kenton was Stevens’ girlfriend. Stevens then journeys across England to visit Miss Kenton in the hope she can be persuaded to resume her old position under Darlington Hall’s new owner. As the car journey unfolds flashbacks to the 1930s fill in the details of the relationship between the two.