'The Chaperone': A Coming Of Age Tale For The Middle-Aged
The Chaperone is the first major theatrical film release from PBS Distribution, best known up until now for home video releases. One can understand why this was the first project selected for it. Adapted and written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame from the novel by Laura Moriarty, it is directed by Michael Engler (also of Downton Abbey fame). It stars Elizabeth McGovern, who is currently best known for her turn in Downton Abbey as American heiress Cora Crawley.
Set in the same era as the beloved PBS show, The Chaperone follows the story of budding silent-era film star Louise Brooks (Haley Lu Richardson), who leaves Wichita for New York City in the company of Norma Carlilse, a middle-class married matron who acts as her chaperone. As Brooks goes on to take the town by storm on her way to Hollywood, Norma goes on her own journey of self-discovery. Fellowes' penchant for finding older female talent and writing them brilliant characters to play (as he's previously done with Maggie Smith, and now seems intent on doing with McGovern) would make this sound like a sure-fire bet for PBS Distribution to lead off a move to the big screen. How could it possibly fail?
Unfortunately, the film has not caught fire the way some might have hoped. The Chaperone's run in theaters back in March was startlingly brief, especially compared to the Downton Abbey movie (which is still running over two months after its initial reliease). Its Rotten Tomatoes score gives it a 43% splat from critics. It's been available to stream via PBS Passport since August, and this weekend, it finally aired on Masterpiece itself.
