The legendary Hollywood star Dustin Hoffman has today begun production on his debut feature as director with the British drama QUARTET. Having worked with the likes of Sam Peckinpah (STRAW DOGS), Sydney Pollack (TOOTSIE), Steven Speilberg (HOOK) and John Schlesinger (MIDNIGHT COWBOY) over the course of his career, Hoffman now seems that he is ready to take charge with an adaptation of the Ronald Harwood stage play.
Hoffman has assembled some of the cream of British acting with the likes of Dame Maggie Smith (GOSFORD PARK), Michael Gambon (HARRY POTTER), Tom Courtenay (NICOLAS NICKLEBY) and Billy Connelly (THE LAST SAMURAI) for the movie that will be produced by BBC Films.
The synopsis, via a press release, goes as follows…
Lifelong friends Wilf (Billy Connolly) and Reggie (Tom Courtenay), together with former colleague Cissy (Pauline Collins), are residents of Beecham House, a home for retired opera singers. Every year on Giuseppe Verdi’s birthday, the residents unite to give a concert to raise funds for their home. But when Jean Horton (Maggie Smith), a former grande dame of the opera fallen on hard times, also Reggie’s ex-wife and the fourth and most celebrated member of their former quartet, moves into the home to everyone’s surprise, the plans for this year’s concert start to unravel. As old grudges threaten to undermine past glories and theatrical temperaments play havoc with the rehearsal schedule, it becomes apparent that having four of the finest singers in English operatic history under one roof offers no guarantee that the show will go on. QUARTET is a joyous and entertaining film about redefining old age and growing old with hope, demonstrating how art illuminates life and the human spirit remains undimmed even as the brightest stars start to fade.
Source: Firstshowing.net
