Synopsis
A rule-bound head butler's world of manners and decorum in the household he maintains is tested by the arrival of a housekeeper who falls in love with him in post-WWI Britain. The possibility of romance and his master's cultivation of ties with the Nazi cause challenge his carefully maintained veneer of servitude.
The Remains of the Day (1993) is a 2h 14min drama feature film by James Ivory. A rule-bound head butler's world of manners and decorum in the household he maintains is tested by the arrival of a h... Selected for Los Angeles Film Awards (2025).
Key facts
Cast
Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, James Fox, Christopher Reeve, Hugh Grant, Peter Vaughan, Ben Chaplin, Paula Jacobs
Original language
English
First release
November 5, 1993 (Canada)
Production companies
Merchant Ivory Productions
Based on
The Remains of the Day
Awards
Silver nugget for the best foreign film, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Setting
England
Crew
Screenplay
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Producer
Ismail Merchant, John Calley, Mike Nichols
Cinematography
Tony Pierce-Roberts
Editing
Andrew Marcus
Music
Richard Robbins
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Los Angeles Film Awards 2025
- Academy Awards 1994 academy_award
- BAFTA Awards 1994 generic
- Berlin International Film Festival 1994 generic
- Directors Guild of America 1993 generic
- National Board of Review 1993 generic
Titles
| Original title | The Remains of the Day | |
| Québec French title | Les Vestiges du jour |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | The Remains Of The Day (Original Soundtrack Recording) - Richard Robbins (1993) | 1 release, 1993: Capitol Records |
| CD | The Remains Of The Day (Original Soundtrack Recording) - Richard Robbins (1993) | 5 releases, 1993-1994: Angel Records |
| Cassette | The Remains Of The Day (Original Soundtrack Recording) - Richard Robbins (1993) | 3 releases, 1993: Angel Records |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Canada | November 5, 1993 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | November 12, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | November 12, 1993 |
| Theatrical | United States | November 19, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | January 13, 1994 |
| Theatrical | France | February 23, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | February 24, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | February 24, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | February 25, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Spain | February 25, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Italy | February 25, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | February 25, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Germany | March 10, 1994 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | March 11, 1994 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | April 16, 1994 |
| Television | France | March 29, 1996 |
| Television | Austria | February 28, 1998 |
| Television | Germany | July 12, 1998 |
| Television | France | February 15, 1999 |
| Television | Switzerland | November 8, 2001 |
| Television | Netherlands | August 11, 2002 |
| Streaming | France | April 30, 2012 |
| Streaming | France | November 30, 2021 |
| Television | France | October 15, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 6 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | U |
| Classification | United States | PG |
Versions & editions
| Home video | Denmark | November 5, 1993 |
| Home video | Australia | December 1, 1993 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | May 26, 1994 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | November 25, 1994 |
| Home video | France | September 5, 1995 |
| Home video | Netherlands | September 5, 2001 |
| Home video | France | October 1, 2001 |
| Home video | Netherlands | October 9, 2013 |
Full credits
| Director | James Ivory |
| Cast | Anthony Hopkins (James Stevens), Emma Thompson (Miss Kenton), James Fox (Lord Darlington), Christopher Reeve (Jack Lewis), Hugh Grant (Reginald Cardinal), Peter Vaughan (William Stevens), Ben Chaplin (Charlie, Head Footman), Paula Jacobs (Mrs. Mortimer, the cook), Patrick Godfrey (Spencer), Michael Lonsdale (Dupont D'Ivry), Rupert Vansittart (Sir Geoffrey Wren), Tim Pigott-Smith (Thomas Benn), Lena Headey (Lizzie), Paul Copley (Harry Smith), Peter Cellier (Sir Leonard Bax), Brigitte Kahn (Baroness), John Savident (Doctor Meredith), Pip Torrens (Doctor Richard Carlisle), Peter Eyre (Lord Halifax), Wolf Kahler (German ambassador), Abigail Hopkins (Housemaid), John Haycraft (Auctioneer), Caroline Hunt (Landlady), Steve Dibben (George, Second Footman), Terence Bayler (Trimmer), Peter Halliday (Canon Tufnell), Jeffry Wickham (Viscount Bigge), Tony Aitken (Postmaster), Christopher Brown (Irma), Ian Redford (Publican), Jo Kendall (Publican's wife), Steven Beard (Andrews), Miles Richardson (Craddock (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Ruth Prawer Jhabvala |
| Producer | Ismail Merchant, John Calley, Mike Nichols |
| Executive producer | Paul Bradley |
| Cinematography | Tony Pierce-Roberts |
| Editing | Andrew Marcus |
| Music | Richard Robbins |
| Production design | Luciana Arrighi |
| Costumes | Jenny Beavan, John Bright |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
