Academy Award® nominee Amy Adams (Enchanted) and Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand star in this charming comedy about finding a new life and a new love, all in one day. When Miss Pettigrew (McDormand) stumbles upon the chance to become the new "social secretary" to glamorous high-society singer and actress Delysia Lafosse (Adams), she seizes the opportunity despite being totally out of her element. Swept up into the glamorous whirl of high society, it's all Miss Pettigrew can do to keep up with Delysia as she juggles her lovelife and career in this "delightful champagne cocktail of a comedy!" (Leah Rozen, People).
Based on a 1938 Winifred Watson novel, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a colorful story about lives stalled in middle age but kick-started again by the follies of youthful lovers all around. Frances McDormand stars as Miss Pettigrew, whose inability to hold a job in London as a governess compromises her well-being shortly before England's entry in World War II. Finessing her way into a position as social secretary to a young, American golddigger and singer named Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), the starving Miss Pettigrew finds herself at the center of a whirlwind that is her new employer's life. Hemmed in by lovers and suitors--including a young, theatrical producer (Tom Payne) looking to cast one of his pleasing girlfriends in a plum role; a creepy nightclub owner (Mark Strong) in whose flat Delysia lives; and a pianist (Lee Pace) who genuinely loves her--Delysia needs a map to figure out how to navigate through life. Miss Pettigrew, who suffered a loss during WWI that she does not speak of, nudges the naïve songstress toward wise decisions. But she is at the mercy of Delysia's formidable friend (Shirley Henderson), who knows the truth about her impoverished state and is engaged to a much older man (Ciarán Hinds). The latter, a fellow of substance who seems to be meandering through life, falls instantly for the soulful Miss Pettigrew. Full of Art Deco trappings and paced with a vintage, screwball comedy energy, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is like watching a contemporary version of a Hollywood classic. --Tom Keogh
Get to Know the cast from Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Amy Adams
Frances McDormand
Lee Pace
Beyond Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day on DVD
Read the Book
Get the Soundtrack
More from Focus Features
Stills from Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Click for larger image)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Charming Screwball Farce Captures the Pre-World War II Period Well with a Game Cast:
Directed by Bharat Nalluri, known previously for actioners and thrillers, this 2008 trifle pleasantly surprised me as it is an assured throwback to the effortlessly breezy 1930's screwball farces with some added serious undertones capturing England at an uncertain time as the country was preparing for another world war. In look and manner, the film is reminiscent of Stephen Frears' 2005 Mrs. Henderson Presents, but I find this a comparatively more entertaining concoction thanks to the sly performances of... more info
Movie OK, Amazon On Demand Needs Improvement:
Movie was fine and I agree with the other reviewers. Unfortunately, the movie continually stuttered and lagged on my 2.2 GHz, Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro connected via a university ethernet connection (about 20,000 kbps downstream, much faster than any cable connection). I tried it in both Firefox and Safari with no other programs running. It did not make a difference. The inability to buffer the movie is a real problem with this service. As I use a Mac, I was not able to download the movie first and then... more info
Miss Pettigrew:
Loved this at the movies and it was on my daughter's Christmas list. Charming movie, very uplifting and fun.
Misstitled, but a delightful film nonetheless:
A movie with a score and storyline reminiscent of the JEEVES AND WOOSTER adaptations of P.G. Woodhouse's classic series made for the BBC, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY is a delightful film, even if it is misstitled (more on that to follow). Set in pre-WWII London, the protagonist Miss Pettigrew, "a governess of last resort," finds herself without work, hungry, and on the street with nothing but the clothes on her back. Frances McDormand is perfectly cast as the wholesome protagonist whose main virtues are... more info
