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Quartet (2012)

PG-13  |   |  Comedy, Drama  |  1 March 2013 (USA)
6.8
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Ratings: 6.8/10 from 14,464 users   Metascore: 64/100
Reviews: 125 user | 173 critic | 36 from Metacritic.com

At a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents.

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Title: Quartet (2012)

Quartet (2012) on IMDb 6.8/10

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Bobby Swanson
Gwyneth Jones ...
Anne Langley (as Dame Gwyneth Jones)
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George
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Harry
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Frank White
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Patricia Loveland ...
Letitia Davis
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Angelique
...
Simon
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Storyline

Cecily, Reggie, and Wilfred are in a home for retired musicians. Every year, on October 10, there is a concert to celebrate Verdi's birthday and they take part. Jean, who used to be married to Reggie, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva, but she refuses to sing. Still, the show must go on... and it does. Written by BrianoftheNorth

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Four friends looking for a little harmony See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and suggestive humor | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| |

Release Date:

1 March 2013 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Cuatro notas de amor  »

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$47,122 (USA) (11 January 2013)

Gross:

$18,381,787 (USA) (21 June 2013)
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Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Maggie Smith also starred in another film named Quartet (1981) about 31 years earlier. However, the only similarities between the two movies are the title and Smith. See more »

Goofs

While Reggie is playing croquet with Wilf, his pocket handkerchief and shirt buttons suddenly swap sides, indicating a flipped shot. See more »

Quotes

Reginald Paget: [to a class of teenagers] Opera is: when a guy's stabbed in the back, instead of bleeding, he sings. It seems to me, after much research, that rap is when a guy is stabbed in the back, and instead of bleeding, he talks. Er, rhythmically, even with feeling. But because rap's *spoken*, the feeling is sort of held in check: all on one note.
See more »

Crazy Credits

As the final credits roll, photos of each of the supporting cast members of retired musicians is shown beside a picture of them during their performing careers. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Film '72: Episode dated 19 November 2014 (2014) See more »

Soundtracks

Caro nome
from "Rigoletto: Act 1"
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto Francesco Maria Piave
Performed by Ileana Cotrubas, Wiener Philharmoniker
Conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
Under license by Universal Music Operations Ltd
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A sure-footed and moving debut.
3 December 2012 | by (North Hollywood, CA) – See all my reviews

There are two obvious reasons to see this film. One is that it's Dustin Hoffman's directing debut. The other is that any film with Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay, Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon is very unlikely to be less than very good.

As it turns out, the film - set in a retirement home for classical musicians - is simply perfect: touching and amusing from the start, with generous but judicious doses of lovely music, shifting gears in an in-obtrusively sure-footed way. Billy Connolly (who was once a presence in my local hang-out) is about as close to his real self here as in any part I've seen him play: ribald, mischievous and large-hearted; the shameless jokester and flirt you nonetheless know you can always depend on. Courtenay is heart-rendingly endearing from the start, in the most quiet, under-stated way. Maggie Smith shows far more range than her now- stock Grande Dame parts usually allow her, including an unaccustomed vulnerability and a charming exercise, at one moment, of calculated yet shy girlish charm.

As one would expect from a director who is a great actor himself, the palette of characters here is vividly and colorfully incarnated by actors who are often memorable even in the most minor parts.

The music is both respectfully and affectionately integrated throughout, moving from noble classical pieces to a cheerful bit of music hall. And is paid a surprising homage in the credits, which continue the film's nod to age and accomplishment well past its not very surprising but still satisfying end.

Very few viewers, by the way, will sense the echos here - but no more - of a lovely French film from 1935 about a retirement home for actors: "La Fin du Jour":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031309/combined

Ronald Harwood ("The Pianist", "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", etc) tells a very different story, but anyone who enjoys this one and understands enough French should certainly seek out the older film (with the great Michel Simon).


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This was an utterly charming film, flawlessly done etiennestories
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