Bright Young Things -- any other fans?

This film adaptation of Waugh's VILE BODIES is terrific change of pace after a summer of CG/action-packed Americana. Autumn in the pre-War England really charmed me. Anyone else see it? I more or less stumbled into it, looking for more adult fare (after seeking out DOOR IN THE FLOOR and WE DON'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE, among others). The movie is lush and beatifully made (by Stephen Fry), visually as rich and atmospheric as WOMEN IN LOVE and other great British films of the 70s and 80s. The movie works very effectively on two levels -- mostly, the Waugh tone of sending up the rich and shallow. But also, as WW II arrives, it gives it the insane calm before the dark storm angle. (Which Waugh didn't hit hard, of course.) No, not like the Berlin of CABARET -- but by strategically showing the last round of party days in England among the young and wealthy before the world turned upside down. The parallels to our own times are there for those who want to find them. (Like me.)Check it out. And it has some incredibly delicious cameos, in particular Dan Ackroyd, Stockard Channing, and the great musical stage star, Julia McKenzie.

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I adored it. Abosutely loved it. SO glad it's finally getting a US release.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Gotham, I have to differ with your statment by saying there is very much a plot. The film, like the movel, appears on the surface somewhat disjointed as it starts. Things do come together as the central character(s)realize the shallow emptiness of their lives as the social-economic influences on their existence cause self-examination. Change the costumes and the accents, and the human behavior depicted plays itself out in any age and in any culture in history.

The characterizations are heavily influenced by real people who lived in London's social set between the Great Wars. For example, Shepard's Hotel is based on The Cavendish hotel wich existed on Jermym Street run by the same proprietress, as depicted on screen, for nearly 50 years. The publisher played by Dan Ackroyd was a Canadian Lord who heavily dominated the Fleet Street press at the time.

This is a witty, intelligent script, finely directed and acted.
Exquisite cameos turns.

Thank gawd for British, French, Spanish and Italian films which continually show they are less influenced by the need to capture the teen market as is today's Hollywood.

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 11:34 AM

From the Icon (distributor) website...

Adapted by STEPHEN FRY from Evelyn Waugh’s novel, "Vile Bodies".

Our young hero, Adam (STEPHEN CAMPBELL MOORE - RSC), needs to get enough money to marry the beautiful Nina (EMILY MORTIMER - Young Adam, 51st State, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Elizabeth). His friends - eccentric, wild, louche and entirely shocking to the older generation, seem one by one to self-destruct, to crash and burn in their endless search for newer and faster sensations.

Their world is that of the very young, wild, party-loving creatures new to gramophone records and the telephone - this is a self-consciously modern generation that cannot keep still for a second. They are known to the press, who follow their every move, as the Bright Young Things.
Bright Young Things

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 12:52 PM

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Updated On: 8/29/04 at 07:20 PM

"We?"

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Oh, do tell.

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