Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Widescreen & Full Screen Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: Bharat Nalluri
Actors: Frances Mcdormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Shirley Henderson, Tim Potter
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $15.99
You Save: $13.99 (47%)
New (34) Used (10) Collectible (1) from $12.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 117
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 60
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 62102017
UPC: 025195016230
EAN: 0025195016230
ASIN: B0018M6J90
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: August 19, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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).System Requirements:Running Time: 92 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/COMING OF AGE Rating: PG-13 UPC: 025195016230 Manufacturer No: 62102017
Amazon.com
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 naive 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 (Ciaran 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 |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
 Miss Pettigrew Made Our Day August 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When I bought this movie, I didn't quite know what to expect. MISS PETTIGREW is one of those movies that if it did come to the theaters in rural Alabama, I probably would not have gone to see it because the theaters are reserved for "blockbusters." A look at the box shows no comment from a critic that I have grown to know and respect, I was curious about how Amy Adams and Frances McDormand would interact, and I found a perfectly delightful movie.
This is the type of movie that when one writes about it, it is difficult not to give away "spoilers," but on the other side of the coin, it is fairly predictable in that you "know" in your heart where it should probably go, but you are somewhat surprised by two things that happen along the way:
1) The performances. Wonderful! There was an indication or two that Frances McDormand, as Miss Pettigrew, was fighting an urge within herself on just how much to show of an emotion, a difficulty that some actors, have when they are both competent on the stage and screen, but that could, also, be a problem that was more the director's fault. Of all of the performances, only Shirley Henderson playing Edythe Dubarry was quite annoying, which grated me; however, her character was supposed to be annoying, which given some of her previous roles, "Moaning Myrtle" in the Harry Potter movies, is perhaps a type-casting she should be concerned about receiving.
2) The characters. The writing was so skillful that you knew the characters, the good and the bad, before you met them. The "over-the-top" performance of Amy Adams as Delysia Lafosse ("Enchanted") and "low-keyed" performance of Ms. McDormand were as balanced as the Ying and Yang symbols on an Asian scarf, designed by Joe Blumfield, nonetheless. Seldom do you see a movie where the characters "fit" the acting, or is that vise-versa and the acting "fit" the characters. Whatever the case, the characters are well developed.
So, why 5-Stars? I mean is this "Casablanca," one of the few movies that I have ever given a 5-Star rating? No, but MISS PETTIGREW is one of those movies that is fun, enjoyable to watch over-and-over for "things" one missed the first time, and at the same time, it provides several life lessons. I would probably have given this a 4.5-Stars, but there is no such animal, at least here, and giving it 5-Stars, maybe, just maybe, someone out there, who really likes movies, and really enjoys very good performances will see the "5-Stars" and take a chance and have a nice one hour and thirty-two minutes watching this delightful movie.
 A charming diversion August 24, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Sure, "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is frothy and a bit sappy with the romance, but it's also loads of fun. Without a doubt, there was no heavy lifting on the parts of the versatile Frances McDormand or Ciaran Hinds though they're as delightful to watch as the younger talents.
Miss Guinevere Pettigrew has just lost her job (again!) due to her gruffness. Called the "governess of last resort," her agency refuses to place her in another position and she very shortly finds herself queuing for a meal at a soup kitchen in London. Through some quick thinking on her part, she lands a job as "social secretary" to a ditzy starlet, Delysia LaFosse (Amy Adams), and finds herself and her quick wits in great demand in one chaotic and hectic day. Filled with one high society high jinx after another, Miss Pettigrew untangles the lives of those she meets and in the process, finds unexpected happiness for herself!
It's an entertaining pre-WWII nostalgic romp done with meticulous attention to the music (swing), settings and costumes. Nothing here demands anything much from the viewer--it's one of those DVDs you pop in and just let it take you for an enjoyable ride. It's a gussied up flick much like those of Carole Lombard's 1930s screwball comedies. Touching at the end and an amusing hour-and-a-half.
 Miss Pettigrew Should Have Stayed in Bed August 24, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
On the surface, it's easy to see why viewers might be drawn to the mindless diversion of "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". With the evening news broadcasting reports of never-ending atrocities in Africa and the Middle East, escalating crime woes in American cities, and devastating economic downturns, "Miss Pettigrew" offers a return to a different time and place, specifically the era of the British stiff upper lip in a London not yet affected by the Second World War. In this world, fast-talking, loose-living theater folk emulate the characters in an Astaire/Rogers musical, flitting breezily from cocktail parties to fashion shows to jazzy nightclubs, while penniless spinsters cling to their dignity in soup lines. By hook or by crook, everbody's looking for something better, but nobody is what they pretend to be; they're all about appearances, what's projected on the surface. Which is the big problem with this movie. "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is all about setting the mood for a particular place in time; it's about capturing the style of dialogue spoken in the frothy Hollywood screwball comedies of the thirties and early forties; it's about depicting a way of life that I'm not sure really existed outside the fevered imaginations of underpaid screenwriters. But, underneath the gloss and high velocity chatter of "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day", there's nothing. It's an empty, lovely vessel carrying such luminaries as Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, and Lee Pace across a sea of banality.
To be sure, there is very little plot. Miss Pettigrew, the middle-aged daughter of a vicar, has been let go from her latest job as a nanny (apparently, she tends to aid children in their misbegotten adventures). Desperate, but ever-virtuous, the poor woman guiltily snatches a business card from the snooty woman at her temp agency, and immediately finds herself employed as the social secretary for a frivolous, ambitious, young actress named Delysia Lafosse. Soon enough, Miss Pettigrew finds herself caught up in the frantic machinations of the actress and her social circle, as they struggle to attain starring roles, rich husbands, beautiful wives, fame, fortune, and whatever else that, to them, spells happiness. The fact that Delysia has the habit of sleeping with different men puts her in an awkward situation that only Miss Pettigrew can help her with. And thereby hangs the flimsy thread that serves as a plot for this silly trifle.
Interestingly, although ominous hints of an approaching World War II surround the characters--there are already gas masks hanging in department store windows--there is very little actual concern demonstrated from anyone; they're all too worried about their next move, and to what extent they will benefit. Appearances aside, they're really pretty dreadful people.
As Miss Pettigrew, Frances McDormand is like an older, tireder Maria von Trapp, as she appeared in the first 20 minutes of "The Sound of Music" (though, thankfully, she doesn't sing). She's exhausted by her penury but, unlike everyone else in the film, doesn't do much to improve her lot in life by, oh, applying some makeup or ditching the drab wardrobe, or attempting a little charm. Even when her employer gives her a makeover, she's surprisingly dull and lifeless. I suppose that's meant to convey a Mother Superior-like chasteness, to make us believe in Miss Pettigrew's moral superiority over her more earthy companions, but it just makes her seem unattractive and uninteresting.
As the actress, Delysia Defosse, Amy Adams has a luminous quality that shines through even this ill-gotten mess. Her Delysia's speech has the cadence of machine-gun fire and she's got the total self-absorption of a pampered cat; she's a pretty, peppy, resourceful tart with no more depth than a paper doll.
Without exception, all the male characters are written as cuckholds or jerks (or both). They're so one-dimensional that they barely exist; their only function seems to be providing the ladies with a place to hang their hats, if you will. Lee Pace and Tom Payne, both young and handsome, are practically interchangeable as two of Delysia's suitors. Their distinguishing traits are that the Pace character is poor and, therefore, has a pure love for Delysia, while the Payne character is rich, with, ultimately, less honest (and less pure) designs on the girl. Talented Ciaran Hinds is trotted out as fodder for Miss Pettigrew's well-hidden romantic yearnings, but he's no more believable than the rest of the cast. Everyone in the considerably talented ensemble is totally wasted.
At least you'd think they'd make pre-war London look good, but the cinematography is murky, and the few shots we get of the city are skimpy, as if there wasn't enough money left over after paying the cast to create convincing street scenes. I've seen PBS Mystery do a better job recreating an older London in the Miss Marple series than the filmmakers here do.
The people behind "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" have assembled a lot of talent for their project, but they forgot to deliver a serviceable script, create believable characters, or to come up with anything that is, in any way, meaningful. The sheer emptiness of this endeavor only serves to underscore the tremendous waste of talent, time, and money displayed here.
Tangled in Trysts August 24, 2008
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
One would think pairing Frances McDormand and Amy Adams for `Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' would be irresistible. Adams stars as Delysia LaFosse, a hyperventilating American starlet living in England just before World War II. Here she reminds us of the charm she gave so easily in 'Junebug' and 'Enchanted (Full Screen Edition)'. McDormand, whose acting dexterity is only rivaled by the likes of Meryl Streep, gave us a flawless Minnesotan accent to go with a perfect performance in 'Fargo' and a Southern accent for her marvelous debut in `Blood Simple'. Now she plays the title character, a nearly homeless lower class woman with a dumpy wardrobe. And, yes, her gentle cockney accent is spot on. While both performances are up to snuff, the movie's breezy charm and sometimes droll development prevent the whole affair from taking full life.
At the beginning Guinevere Pettigrew's luck is about to worsen as her employment agency supervisor relates how she has obtained no favorable reviews for any of her work assignments. Showing ingenuity, she grabs a hold of the business card of a prospective client before she is dismissed for good. She then arrives at Delysia's upscale residence where the flummoxed starlet is fumbling to get ready for the day while still entertaining a lover in bed. Quickly, Guinevere learns of her many trysts, which Delysia tries to manage with lilting skill. There's Philip (Phil)[Tom Payne] in her bed; then Nick (Mark Strong) a nightclub owner who shows up at what turns out to be his place after all. Meanwhile, Michael (Lee Pace) has another offer she can't yet refuse.
Not merely relying on lust, Delysia dates Phil while trying out for a part in his London play; Nick often features her at his nightclub; and Michael has a stake as he offers to have her accompany him at a set of NYC shows. She's just a girl who can't say no.
Sorting out her priorities between work and love, Delysia needs Guinevere to give her a backbone and maneuver her through all her duplicity. Miss Pettigrew, the daughter of a minister, needs bread to feed her, but finds the job description "fraught with moral complexity".
There's plenty of charm to be sure. Just as one expects from the trailer, the movie does deliver a "Cinderella" makeover element that's fun to watch. Going to a fashion show luncheon, Delysia introduces her to Edyth Duberry (Shirley Henderson), the announcer, whose scathing commentary during Joe Blumfield's ladies underwear catwalk extravaganza only reveals the fury of a former fiance scorned. Edyth, who contributes to the `Pygmalion' transformation, expects to be repaid by Miss Pettigrew's smoothing finesse to heal the fissure in their relationship.
Call me curmudgeon, but it really takes until the second half for the movie to get its traction. I love feel good movies, and I love the ensemble gathered together, but the intended whimsy is fleeting like cotton candy instead of latter portions of the movie where it's deeper and richer like English pudding. World War II as a backdrop doesn't mean that much, except to show us the arrogant indifference (and sometimes fear) of Miss Pettigrew's aristocratic counterparts. In the end, 'Miss Pettigrew...' is cutesy, but often hollow.
A J.P.'s Pan 2.5*'s = Mediocre-Fair
A Day Worth Viewing August 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is the governess of last resort. No, that doesn't mean she turns naughty children around. In fact, she doesn't seem to be able to keep a job. Fired from her last job, she literally has nothing. And her employment agency is tired of trying to find her jobs. After all, jobs are scarce in 1930's London. Desperate, Miss Pettigrew takes the address of a client, a Delysia Lafoose (Amy Adams).
When Miss Pettigrew arrives at the address, she finds Delysia in crisis. While saving the day, Miss Pettigrew learns that Delysia isn't looking for a governess but a social secretary because they are fashionable.
And Delysia definitely needs help sorting out her life. She's a singer who wants to become an actress. But she's having huge man problems. Specifically, there are three men in her life. There's Phil (Tom Payne), who she has slept with to gain the lead in the play he is producing. There's Nick (Mark Strong), who owns the nightclub where Delysia sings every night as well as the apartment where Delysia lives. Then there's Michael (Lee Pace), a piano player who has proposed to Delysia and has spent the last year in prison waiting for an answer.
Miss Pettigrew is definitely out of her element, but she seems to be helping Delysia juggle everything. Can she keep up and guide Delysia at the same time?
Yes, this movie is a predictable romantic comedy. But the ride is quite enjoyable. The first half is almost farcical in tone with many laugh out loud moments. The second half becomes more serious with fewer laughs but many very touching moments. But by that point you are so invested in everyone's lives you have to stay and see how it turns out.
The acting holds things together perfectly with the entire cast balancing the comedy and emotion. But I've got to praise the two leads. Frances McDormand's facial expressions provide some of the best laughs in the first half. And Amy Adams keeps Delysia from being a mindless fluffy character. Instead, we truly care about her from her very first scene.
While this is a mindless comedy, I think its appeal will skew slightly older. Even with the partial nudity and double meanings, this movie will appeal most to adults and less to the teen and early twenty crowd.
I found this romantic comedy fun and charming and think that any adult will feel the same way.
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