The Young Visiters

Today, in honor of David Yates' final Harry Potter film, I decided to watch an earlier work of his: The Young Visiters.  (And yes, I do mean visiters and not visitors.)  The film is based on a book written by Daisy Ashford in 1890.  The important thing to understand is that Daisy Ashford was nine years old when she wrote this masterpiece.  (This is why the title is spelled incorrectly and also why the movie might feel a bit trippy and over the top at times.)  I have yet to read the book, but I understand it is very unintentionially amusing.  The movie, however, is intentionally amusing as it recreates this nine year old's vision of Victorian England.

The story:  Forty-two year old Alfred Salteena meets the young and pretty Ethel on a train ride.  He falls instantly in love with her and makes the rash promise to help her meet lords and dukes and royalty so that he might be able to spend more time with her.  Everything is going along splendidly until she is introduced to Lord Clark.  Lord Clark falls for her, and she falls for his title.  Mr. Salteena decides that he must gain a title to win her love, and he goes off the the Crystal Palace where he is taught to be a gentleman. 

The story is underwhelming in and of itself.  The fun of this movie comes from the cast and from Daisy Ashford's entertaining view of her society.  I don't want to give away the craziness that is Daisy Ashford's world, so I"ll just focus briefly on the actors.   Mr. Salteena is played by Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge),  Ethel by Lyndsey Marshall (Garrow's Law), and Lord Clark by Hugh Laurie (House).  Okay, truth be told, I'm just going to focus on one actor.  Hugh Laurie.  Now, I love Hugh Laurie in whatever he is in, but I absolutely adored him in this.  He is very understated here compared to some of the other actors, but his expressions are priceless.  My favorite scenes were the proposal scene and the scene at the hotel.  I was laughing through both of them, mostly because Hugh Laurie just appears so overwhelmed by Ethel's enthusiam.  This movie is worth watching just for Hugh Laurie.   If you are a fan of his at all, you must see this.

Overall, this film is very cute and funny.  I enjoyed catching random glimpses of Bill Nighy (I Capture the Castle and He Knew He was Right), Sally Hawkins (Persuasion), and Sophie Thompson (Emma and Gosford Park).  I also enjoyed the inappropriate dance scenes and Ethel's costumes (her dresses were unusual, but strangely pretty.  I could picture Helena Bohnam Carter in them all, if that tells you anything).  I fully recommend checking this out, if you can find it.  Just remember, this was actually written by a nine year old.  The narrator is NOT playing with you. 

In conclusion, here is one of my favorite scenes.  Spoilers beware!