Entertainment
DVD Corner: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Karen Lefkowitz |
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 One incredible day completely changes the lives of two charming characters in Focus Features’ Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
Downtrodden governess Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) has been discharged from the latest in a string of appointments. Her employment agency swiftly dismisses her--permanently. It’s 1939; London is on the brink of war, and destitute Miss Pettigrew takes a chance, snatching up a business card and showing up at an individual’s residence, intending to take the open position she overhead discussed at the agency.
Thinking she’s in for another nanny job, Miss Pettigrew is quite shocked to discover her new charge is a grown-up--charming, flighty American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). Delysia has three suitors in hot pursuit: young, impetuous theater producer Phil (Tom Payne); suave, controlling club owner Nick (Mark Strong); and handsome, kind but poor piano player Michael (Lee Pace). He’s the only one who truly loves Delysia. Here’s the problem: Michael wants Delysia’s heart for himself and proposes marriage, Phil offers her the lead in his upcoming play and cabaret owner Nick keeps Delysia employed at his club and in his lavish apartment, affording her the luxurious life but dictating every aspect.
Our governess-turned-pretend-social secretary is dragged by Delysia to a lingerie show, where she catches the eye of former sock designer-turned-lingerie maker Joe (Ciarán Hinds). The tables are then turned as the newly appointed savior Cinderella figure is gifted a makeover by godmother Delysia. The once homeless urchin is transformed into an elegant lady.
 It isn’t only Joe who is curious about Miss Pettigrew but also his scorned lover Edythe (Shirley Henderson), whom Miss Pettigrew actually caught with another man the night before. Edythe blackmails poor Pettigrew into helping her win Joe back by threatening to expose her true identity.
The threat of World War II constantly looms in the background, along with the dilemmas faced by both damsels. They are so different yet alike, each dealing with a troublesome situation. With only their wiles, heart and each other, both heroines eventually end up with happily ever after.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day plays like a great piano tune. The terrific script by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy, with its snappy dialogue and quick pacing, is like swift yet melodic strokes across the keyboard. McDormand and Adams are notes that play beautifully together--enchanting indeed.
 The DVD’s (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, MSRP:$29.98) supplemental section has deleted scenes, an audio commentary with director Bharat Nalluri and two featurettes: “Making an Unforgettable Day” and “Miss Pettigrew’s Long Trip to Hollywood.”
The almost nine-minute-long deleted scenes include a funnier alternate opening, some scenes that amplify Miss Pettigrew’s desperate situation and alternative, extended versions of existing scenes.
The audio commentary track gets into deeper details on various aspects of the production, but Nalluri tends to get a little dull and there are a few stretches of total silence. Nevertheless, the track is an informative companion to the film.
“Miss Pettigrew’s Long Trip to Hollywood” discusses the story behind the story, a novel written by Winifred Watson in 1938: a tale, her son states, his mother dreamed up while doing the dishes. Along with Watson’s son, the movie’s producers talk about the book to screenplay to film transition. Written in the ’30s, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day still resonates with modern themes and has at its core a life-affirming message. The project was always on the road to becoming a motion picture, with Watson herself optioning the material to Hollywood three separate times. The terrible incident at Pearl Harbor put an end to the project back then, but thankfully Miss Pettigrew made it to the big screen, a version Watson’s son proclaims his mother would have been very pleased with.
 “Making an Unforgettable Day” is all about the design of the production. A story essentially about the choices we make in life and discovering what is right, this featurette goes into the movie’s central themes, costumes, sets and the working relationship between the director and his actors. Various crew members go into deeper detail on the meticulously styled sets and intricate elements that helped create the world of Miss Pettigrew.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a quirky little picture with loads of charm.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is now available on DVD.
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