Impromptu **** (1991, Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Julian Sands) – Classic Movie Review 11,767

James Lapine’s enchanting 1991 composer and literary biopic Impromptu has a great cast in Judy Davis as George Sand, Hugh Grant as Frédéric Chopin, Mandy Patinkin as Alfred de Musset, and Julian Sands as Franz Liszt.

Director James Lapine’s 1991 composer and literary historical biopic Impromptu has a great cast in Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Julian Sands, Ralph Brown, Georges Corraface, Anton Rodgers, Emma Thompson and Anna Massey.

It tells the story of the loves and intrigues of 19th-century French novelist George Sand (Davis) who recklessly pursues composer Frédéric Chopin (Grant) while trying to avoid her former lover.

The witty screenplay by Sarah Kernochan scores strongly by turning history into glittering romantic comedy, and the acting hits all the right notes.

Impromptu is a real surprise, enchanting and carefree.

Although a British production by an American company, the film was shot entirely on location in France, with the main location at the Chateau des Briottières outside Angers, in the Loire Valley.

It is produced by Daniel A Sherkow and Stuart Oken.

Lapine’s wife Sarah Kernochan wrote the script in 1988 during a lay-off through Writers Guild of America strike. Kernochan’s question is: ‘How do complicated people find a simple way of loving?’

The film, budgeted at $6 million, is a British production with co-production by French company Les Films Ariane and US distribution by US company Sovereign Pictures. It was released on 12 April 1991 in the UK by Rank.

The cast are Judy Davis as George Sand, Hugh Grant as Frédéric Chopin, Mandy Patinkin as Alfred de Musset, Bernadette Peters as Marie Catherine Sophie, Comtesse d’Agoult, Julian Sands as Franz Liszt, Ralph Brown as Eugène Delacroix, Georges Corraface as Felicien Mallefille, Anton Rodgers as Duke d’Antan, Emma Thompson as Duchess d’Antan, Anna Massey as George Sand’s Mother, David Birkin as Maurice, John Savident as Buloz, Lucy Speed as Young Aurora, and Elizabeth Spriggs as Baroness Laginsky.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,767

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