I wish they'd make a film of Lettice and Lovage...

[morosco]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 12:27pm

...starring Maggie Smith. She's still got it!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 1:21pm

The bomb plot might be sticky nowadays

Posted: 6/25/13 at 1:25pm

Yes, Morosco... I have been wishing for this for years!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 1:34pm

It's a difficult piece without Maggie Smith. If you've ever seen a production of it, you realize that unless the actress has what Maggie Smith has, the play falls apart.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 1:39pm

I saw a very decent production of it in L.A. at the Theatricum Botanicum (Will Geer's outdoor theatre) years ago. Ellen Geer played Maggie's part, and she was great.

On film, I think Emma Thompson could do it. Or Pauline Collins.

With Judi Dench in the Margaret Tyzack part.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 1:42pm

With Judi Dench in the Margaret Tyzack part.

Oh wow! Can you imagine???

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 1:45pm

I guess the dotty-old-docent bits are still apt and funny, but I'm afraid this would end up as one more in that ghetto of precious British spinster flicks that include Marigold Hotel, Quartet, and a few forgotten others.

I enjoyed the broadway production lots for the 2 hours it lasted, but damned if I can remember what was so meaningful about it that it deserves a feature film.

[Huss417]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 2:08pm

I guess I am a fan of British Spinster Flicks. :)

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 2:14pm

Since when does anything need to be meaningful to be a feature film?

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 2:18pm

^ point well taken. :)

And don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Quartet a great deal, but DO think it coasted on the charms of old biddies of both genders a little too much.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 2:35pm

I don't think Lettice and Lovage should be cast with octogenarians or retirees of a certain age. They are both older working women. Part of the drama is that Lettice Douffet is old enough that finding a job again would be very tough. I would say 50s for both of them (give or take five years).

So let me revise my casting (as much as I love Dench) ...

Emma Thompson as Lettice Douffet.
Imelda Staunton as Lotte Schoen.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 3:46pm

My first choices would be Juliet Stevenson as Lettice and Miranda Richardson as Lotte.

I'd also like to see Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter reunited - if on stage, they should alternate roles.

It's one of the funniest plays written in the last half century. It could make a very good movie. But it is very hard to cast. When cast badly, it doesn't work at all. The second time I saw it was with Julie Harris and it was a complete bore.

Updated On: 6/25/13 at 03:46 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 5:58pm

Some of the scenes are priceless in this play. I feel the last act falls apart, though.

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 6:10pm

Lettice and Lovage is one of my most favorite Broadway memories. Maggie Smith was just amazing. And Margaret T. as well. I wish they would revive it on stage with some of these woman. Or maybe Charles Busch would be a good choice.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 8:45am

The original on stage was indeed wonderful. I had the good fortune to direct a production a few years later with a wonderful actress as Lettice -- she was recognizable at the time as the much used "PolyGrip lady" on TV commercials.

But every time I watch Downton Abbey, I picture the wonderful Penelope Wilton as Lotte!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 9:10am

Patash, Penelope Wilton is the first woman I thought of for Lotte too, especially opposite Smith. But I tend to agree with best12 that, especially in today's economy, the story works best with both women in their 50s.

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 09:10 AM

[Patash]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 10:01am

True, and Lotte really does need to be somewhat younger than Lettice.

I'm not good with age. I would have guessed that Penelope Wilton is just about 60 and simply "plays older", but I see she is 67. But then I'd never guess Judi Dench is 78 either!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 10:10am

Wilton also reminds me a lot of Tyzack.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 1:02pm

Who's they?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 10:37am

I'm watching Under The Tuscan Sun. Lindsay Duncan would be the ideal Lettice.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 10:43am

Let's face it. This movie would never get financial backing unless it starred Meryl Streep and Judi Dench.

But I love the idea of seeing Duncan play the part. And I think she's wonderful in Under the Tuscan Sun.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 10:49am

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!

http://youtu.be/LDRyHYDH7xI

[D2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 10:52am

I know memory plays tricks on us all, and the whole age thing around here is sketchy at best, but both Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack were in their mid-to-late 50s when they played the roles, and Besty is correct when he states that the play works best when the characters are in that age range.

As for a film, why does it have to be a BIG BUDGET HOLLYWOOD MOVIE? If it were to be filmed at all, most likely it would be made by a British independent film company for limited release and then live forever as a favorite of the certain fan base that would download it the minute it became available.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 10:55am

Spend 30 minutes with Dame Maggie Smith.

http://youtu.be/cF87K3cHTcI