Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris (Angela Lansbury)

(Amazon UK link)

We wanted something light, undemanding and not too long to watch during a busy time of year. We hadn’t seen ‘Mrs ‘Arris Goes to Paris’ for almost nine years, and had only the vaguest memories of it. So it seemed like a good idea to watch it again.

What a lovely film it is, too! Set in the 1950s, the star of this delightful film is Angela Lansbury, in the title role. Mrs Harris is a cleaning lady for the wealthy, widowed many years earlier. In one house she sees two stunning ball gowns, and can’t get over how beautiful they are. She decides that she will save up all her money until she can afford to buy a dress from Dior…

So Mrs Harris goes on an economy drive, giving up all luxuries and unnecessary expenses. She works hard for three years until she has managed to save 450 pounds, which would have been an enormous sum in those days. Her best friend tries to convince her to do something more practical with the money, rather than wasting it all on a dress that she will probably never wear. But Mrs Harris wants to follow her dream…

The main part of the film follows our heroine as she makes her way to Paris, via taxi and aeroplane - evidently considerably less expensive than the dress. And she manages to get into the Dior showroom building, via a back entrance. She has no idea about the system; she simply assumed she could look at a rack of dresses and choose one to buy. Instead, she has to watch a demonstration with models showing the dresses, and then when she finally sees one she loves, it has to be handmade for her specially…

Of course it’s not that simple. Mrs Harris was only planning to stay in Paris for one day, but it will take at least a week to make her dress. She has no extra money for accommodation. And the director of Dior is a snooty many who doesn’t want an English cleaning lady to have a Dior dress…

However the other staff are much nicer, and Mrs Harris wins their hearts through her kindness and wisdom. She manages, in the week she’s in Paris, to make many friends, to help mend a family relationship and to help someone else to start a romantic one. She does a lot to help everyone she comes across in a variety of ways, possibly unrealistically in such a short space of time, but that really doesn't matter. It’s heart-warming, and there are some very moving scenes.

Omar Sharif is excellent as a friendly Marquis who is charmed by Mrs Harris, but all the supporting cast were excellent.

There’s a great deal of humour too, and it’s interesting from the social history point of view as well. The theme about following one’s dream, no matter what, is a positive one. Apparently the film, made in 1992, was based on a 1958 novel. The rating is PG - I’m not sure why it isn’t U, unless it’s due to a small amount of violence - and we thought it well worth seeing again.

Definitely recommended.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Mrs 'Arris goes to Paris (Angela Lansbury)

(Amazon UK link)

I'm not entirely sure how this particular DVD ended up on my wishlist; possibly it was recommended to me by Amazon because I so much enjoyed the TV adaptation of 'The Shell Seekers' which starred Angela Lansbury. Lansbury stars as a very different elderly woman in 'Mrs 'Arris goes to Paris', and does so with equal aplomb.

Mrs Ada Harris is a London charlady, and one of her clients is a wealthy duchess. Ada's aesthetic longings are triggered by seeing a couple of Dior dresses. Shocked to hear their approximate cost, she nonetheless is determined to have one for herself, despite her friends telling her to stop being silly. She saves every penny she can for three years, cutting back on all non-essentials, and then takes off for Paris with her hard-earned cash in a bag.

Unprepared for the world of fashion, Mrs Harris discovers that she can't just choose a dress and buy it off the shelf. Angela Lansbury shows her confusion, her hurt as she is almost turned away, and also her indomitable spirit. Ada is a likeable, friendly woman who endears herself to almost everyone around her, including catching the fancy of a lonely Marquis, played charmingly by Omar Sharif. There are those who don't like her, who are shown as caricatured snobs... but with those she cares for, Mrs Harris spreads an almost magical sparkle, bringing people together and encouraging them to see beyond their problems.

In one sense it's a silly and materialistic plot, but the film is delightful; beautifully done, showing the importance of holding onto one's dreams. Originally made for TV in 1992, it's set in the 1950s and feels more that era. Poignant in places, there are a few very funny moments too.

Rated PG in the UK, I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't have a U rating (in the US it does have a G rating). Definitely recommended.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews