Remains of the Day MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 1/2 Content: +3

Right before World War II, Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) and Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson) head the staff of Darlington Hall, the elegant estate of Lord Darlington, an aristocratic Englishman. As butler and housekeeper they supervise everything from dusting to gardening to elegant dinners. Stuffy would be an accurate description of the perfectionist Mr. Stevens, who has no outside interests. Though equally professional, Miss Kenton has a sense of humor and a mischievous streak in her. Attracted to the stern butler, she teases him in an effort to bring out his human side. As he begins to have feelings for her, Mr. Stevens is too emotionally crippled to respond. Even while his father is dying upstairs, the butler feels he cannot leave his station downstairs. Meanwhile, Lord Darlington has made his mansion the headquarters for clandestine meetings with Nazi officials, but Stevens never wavers in his loyalty to his master. Anthony Hopkins breathes life into the too-long repressed Mr. Stevens in this unforgettable performance. This film will appeal to those who agree that beneath even the most mundane surface lies the potential for a fascinating story.

While few of us can identify with butlers and management of large estates, many of us do understand business organization. In fact, Darlington Hall is much like a small corporation that requires expert management, and Mr. Stevens serves this function superbly. We can also recognize workaholics who use their job to avoid emotional involvement. Mr. Stevens also fits right into this mold. On the lighter side, when Stevens is instructed by Lord Darlington to explain the "birds and bees" to his godson, the results are hilarious. When the stoic, lonely man wants to comfort a heartbroken Miss Kenton, he cannot express his love for her and can only talk about housekeeping tasks. Without any offensive elements except two mild crudities, REMAINS OF THE DAY is a moving, but sometimes sad, love story. It is another admirable production from Columbia Pictues which deserves to be seen by discriminating teenagers and adults.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232