I’m going to be ranking using a couple categories. The most important criteria is for the movie to contain images of lovely china and period food in situ. I’m going to leave out the Downton Abbey Movie because the china is mostly the same as in the television show and I’ll be covering that in a later list. My second criteria is how accurate is the depiction of the table settings and how clear a sense you get of how it is served and staged. Lastly, I’ll consider if the movie is any good. Please let me know if I’ve missed any movies. I have a feeling this may be a two parter.
*Fun drinking game, take a shot every time Maggie Smith shows up in one of these films. I’m not responsible for your liver.
10. Angel, 2009
This lands in number ten because despite it’s extremely talented cast, gorgeous costumes and beautiful sets, this is a terrible movie. I mean it’s absolutely awful. I like several of the director’s French language films, but this is only good viewing if you’re watching it with friends and mocking it. The script is poorly written and the green screen scenes are particularly hilarious. It might be best with the sound turned off so that you can just admire the lovely art direction and crafts people’s work.
9. An Ideal Husband, 2000
Based on the play by Oscar Wilde, this is an enjoyable film version. Stagey, yes, but not horribly so. It’s low on the list because much of the film feels, “period light”. Nothing stands out as being terribly wrong, but it also doesn’t feel as if they tried too hard to make it exactly right. There are also not a whole lot of meals in the film, so not a lot of tableware. The performances are good, Rupert Everett is always delightful, and the sets are stunning.
8. The Last September, 2000
Set in Ireland during the 1920’s, The Last September is a deeply political film masquerading as a period piece. It is extremely well acted and features all the usual suspects for British art house films, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Fiona Shaw are amazing as always. The film also features the young David Tennant and Keeley Hawes, both of whom are terrific. The film itself has flaws, some fairly big ones, but it’s an interesting watch.
The china is very period correct for the eccentric family and the way they live, the party scene is especially nice with period desserts looking especially luscious.
7. The Golden Bowl, 2000
You can’t really go totally wrong with a Merchant / Ivory production. They’re going to look pretty and be intelligently written, but sometimes they can be too serious with the material and this is one of those instances. Most modern audiences will have issues with the sexism, the casting of a Brit as an Italian, and will likely find the “innocent American” trope, which died a hard death last century, too unbelievable for words. Played with earnestness that makes your teeth ache, I can’t say it’s my favorite picture. But oh, the costumes, the settings… the silver!!!
There are only a few party and tea sequences, which is why this doesn’t appear higher on the list. But for accuracy and beauty, the few examples of tableware and food are on point.
6. Wings of the Dove
Based on the Henry James novel, The Wings of the Dove is a film you likely missed but is worth seeking out. I really appreciate that while it is set during the Edwardian period, it acknowledges that there were other aesthetic movements during this period than the ones we always seem to see in Edwardian films. Wings of the Dove gives us palettes influenced by the arts and crafts movement, Klimt and Egon Schiele. The clothes are Edwardian, but also include dresses modeled after Mariano Fortuny.
The dinner sequence early on is worth the watch alone.
5. A Room with A View
The Merchant Ivory version of A Room with A View is in my top ten films of all time. Romantic, funny and touching, if you haven’t seen it… do so! I decided I was going to marry my husband when he told me it was one of his favorite films too, (a man who loves Alien, Jaws and A Room with a View is worth keeping). The few picnics and teas shown are gorgeous and the costumes and art directions are particularly stunning. I’ve easily seen this film over a dozen times and it never gets old. It’s always both hilarious and touching. Quick note: there is an extended male naked romp in the middle of the film – it too is very funny.
4. Howard’s End
Merchant Ivory again. Get used to it. They’re the kings of the period picture. Howard’s End is a feast for the eyes. The tablescapes are many and amazing, but it’s also a wonderful film. The cast is perfection and the storytelling can’t be beat. It isn’t the frothy delight of A Room With A View, but deeper and more melancholic. Plus it has Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave who are so good it makes me ache.
3. Age of Innocence,
Unexpectedly, Martin Scorcese spends real time accurately portraying the etiquette of the time. Luckily, this included long dolly shots of Victorian tables with silver, china and period appropriate food. The shots of ices are legendary, given that hundreds had to be made because the film lights kept melting the props.
Based on the Edith Wharton novel, The Age Of Innocence boasts some stellar performances and would be higher on the list if it wasn’t for a couple real clunker performances, the disappearing voice-over and pacing issues. All that aside, there are a several wonderful dinners in the film that are worth the price of a rental and it’s a gem for costume fanatics as well.
2. Gosford Park
Here we are in the 20th century! I wouldn’t have thought that Robert Altman was going to spend loads of time oohing and ahhing over silver and china, but oh, he does. Well, it is a Julian Fellows script. This film is chock-a-block with pretty things that make me drool. And it’s a terrific film with a stellar cast too. The accuracy on how the meals are presented seems near perfect, I especially like that not everything is too matchy matchy and feels like a collection gathered over generations.
A deconstruction of the British murder mystery, Gosford Park really shines in its combination of Fellow’s writing and Altman’s naturalistic direction of the actors. The film feels like you’ve been allowed to be a fly on the wall both upstairs and downstairs. See it if you haven’t, it’s worth it. Altman seems to use meals as a way to bring all of his characters in contact, so you end up with a phenomenal number of scenes where people are eating breakfast, tea, luncheon, having drinks or dinner.
1. Babette’s Feast
Coming at number one is Babette’s Feast. This Danish film has the most perfect depiction of a formal dinner I have ever seen on screen. I also love the film. The entire final third of the film is dedicated to the preparation and serving of a formal turn of the century dinner with all the courses and wines. Babette’s Feast has only one dinner, but just how perfectly the story integrates the table, china, food, wine and service into the plot makes it stand out above the rest.
Based on an Isak Dinesen story, Babette’s Feast is a meditation on artistry, the choices we make in life and the power of a delicious meal to bring people together in a spirit of love and fellowship. I’m not religious and this film is pretty darn religious, but it’s just soooo good.
Well, I hoped you liked this little jaunt through film tableware. Let me know and I’ll try to do more. They take a lot of time to pull together so I’ll only do it if you guys want me to. Now, I shall sit and have a cup of tea. Much love, Cheri
