... sums this up succinctly if not perfectly. It is, essentially, a minor play, by the 'master', Noel Coward, adapted successfully for the screen and acted to a fare-thee-well by a well-chosen cast. Coward of course shot to fame in 1924 and piled success upon success arguably peaking in the late thirties but still weighing in with a masterpiece in the shape of In Which We Serve, written and shot during the war. He wrote Relative Values in the early fifties some four years before Look Back In Anger ushered in the 'Angry Young Man cum Kitchen Sink' mob hi- jacked the theatre and while not top-drawer Coward it still possessed sufficient style to provide a good night out at the theatre. Whilst Coward is easy to imitate he's difficult to replicate and so it is here with the odd exchange 'can we talk man to man?', 'Any other arrangement would be difficult to imagine' reaching for (and just missing) vintage Coward and a group of actors who clearly have never played Coward previously making a decent fist of it. Highly enjoyable and recommended.

This is great fun and a reminder of when actors and actresses just weren't welcome in polite society (and why). Just watching Colin Firth's face is delicious, he is subtle, funny and brilliant! The star-struck maid alone is worth the price of admission; and Stephen Frye is a perfect butler to Julie's elegant, polished master of each successive situation. Sophie Thompson steals the dinner scene and just about every other one she is in. This is a fabulous, literate comedy of manners with everyone spot-on with their characters. Every time I watch it I find something clever, witty and subtle that I missed the previous time. Just sit back and have fun watching all the stereotypes get skewered.

loved this film! superb cast. extraordinary acting. charming noel coward. the period, costumes, writing, charm, wit - all very clever. Steven fry, Sofie thompson, julie andrews, ted atterton, william baldwin, jeanne tripplehorn, Colin firth - all top flight. i wish more films like this were made. Hollywood need to have more faith in these types. loved seeing the clash of cultures. atterton vs. william baldwin with tripplehorn in the middle - makes for some lovely hi-jinx. found it to be a bit daring to take on an obscure coward piece in the first place. joy that they had the courage to do so. Steven fry is superb as always. i would recommend this to all. it was fab! i give it a 9.999!

Most of the criticism has been because the gags of Noel Coward about class are not so funny now as they were then. But that is just to judge the film by the play. It's *mildly* funny - I dozed at the beginning but then woke up when I realised how enjoyable it was. The real gems are the superb performances all the way through and the way English and American life, mannerisms and etiquette of the 50's (when they were far more distinct) are portrayed so touchingly. Luxuriate in a nice comfy cinema seat (if they have them near you) and be pampered by it!