Mr. Movie: More Maggie Smith

In 1978, Maggie Smith won her second Oscar, for her portrayal as Diana Barrie in Neil Simon’s California Suite. Simon also wrote the screenplay, which is a sparkler — no surprise. The play and movie are a group of four stories about couples who travel to California for various reasons. Smith portrays Diana Barrie, a fading film star nominated for an Oscar. She is unhappily married to Sydney Cochran (Michael Caine), a gay actor venturing further and further from the closet. 
 

As her moment in the spotlight nears, Diana fluctuates between despair, hope and panic. Watch her face — a symposium on acting all by itself! The other three stories feature such stalwarts as Bill Cosby, Jane Fonda, Walter Matthau, Elaine May and Richard Pryor. All the stories are good; Maggie’s is the best.
 

Dame Maggie appeared in two movies with the same title. They are 31 years apart and have nothing to do with each other except those titles. Both are named Quartet. The 1981 version is not exactly a barrel of laughs. Mada Zelli (Isabell Adjani) is left penniless when her art dealer husband Stephan is convicted of possessing stolen art. She moves in with acquaintances H.J. Heidler (Alan Bates) and his wife Lois (Smith). Mada begins an affair with H.J. and Lois meekly stands by, not confronting her wandering husband. Stephan gets out of prison but his return is not greeted with cheer. This Merchant-Ivory offering is a bit of a downer.
 

The second Quartet came out in 2012. It is way more fun and interesting. It is set in a home for retired musicians. Financial hardships threaten to close the place. Some of the residents want to produce an opera patterned after a famous version of Rigoletto which featured a quartet made up of present house members. Smith portrays Jean Horton. She was a member of the famed quartet. She agrees to sing her part and the show does go on, of course. Jean rekindles her love for quartet member Reg (Tom Courtenay) and they might end up back together. The show is a smash hit.

Another Merchant-Ivory production is the better-known Room With A View (1985). It was a critical and popular success and was nominated for eight Oscars. However, it won only for art direction and set decoration. Smith was nominated for her role as Charlotte Bartlett, chaperon on a trip to Italy for Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter), a cousin. She lost to Diane Wiest for Hannah and Her Sisters. Smith was robbed!

Smith has the title lead in The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) and her performance is close to her best. She is a spinster piano teacher whose reduced circumstances land her in a rundown boarding house. There she meets charming James Madden (Bob Hoskins). He believes she has lots of money and will invest in his planned business. She will break your heart!
 

All of the films in this article are available somewhere. All are for adults.