Elsa & Fred (2014 film)

Elsa & Fred
Elsa & Fred
Directed by	Michael Radford
Written by	Michael Radford; Anna Pavignano;
Produced by	Matthias Ehrenberg; Ricardo Kleinbaum; José Levy; Edward Saxon; Nicolas Veinberg; Rob Weston;
Starring	Shirley MacLaine; Christopher Plummer; Marcia Gay Harden; Wendell Pierce; Jared Gilman; Chris Noth; Scott Bakula;
Cinematography	Michael McDonough
Edited by	Peter Boyle
Distributed by	Millennium Entertainment
Release dates	March 7, 2014 (Miami International Film Festival); November 7, 2014;
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Elsa & Fred is a 2014 American comedy-drama film directed by Michael Radford. It was produced by Matthias Ehrenberg, Ed Saxon, Jose Levy, Nicolas Veinberg and Rob Weston. The film stars Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer. The film, set and filmed in New Orleans, is an English-language remake of the 2005 Spanish-Argentine film of the same name. It was the final film appearance of George Segal before he died on March 23, 2021.^[1]^[2]

Plot

The recently widowed, 80-year-old Fred Barcroft is moved by his daughter, against his will, into an apartment in New Orleans, next door to 74-year-old Elsa Hayes. Fred has become embittered, considers himself a realist, but spends most of his time lying down. Elsa is a flighty, vivacious romanticist who dreams of "the sweet life in Rome," as lived by Anita Ekberg in the 1961 film La Dolce Vita. Despite their opposite temperaments and outlooks on life, they fall in love.

Elsa coaxes Fred out of his shell, but tries his patience by telling him several lies about herself. She claims to be a widow and hides her severe kidney disease, which requires dialysis. Fred does not know whether or not to believe Elsa's claim that Pablo Picasso made a painting of her. She says that she has it in a safe, for which she has misplaced the key.

Erika Alexander plays the aide Laverne, who regularly cares for Fred. As she sees him daily, she provides a lively counterpoint and commentary on his developing relationship with Elsa.

When Fred learns from his doctor friend John that Elsa is probably dying, he takes her to Rome to fulfill her dream of wading (like Ekberg) in the Trevi Fountain. He chooses this rather than investing in his son-in-law's dubious business venture. After Elsa dies, her son opens her safe and gives Fred the painting by Picasso, which Elsa bequeathed to him.

Cast

Shirley MacLaine as Elsa Hayes
Christopher Plummer as Fred Barcroft
Marcia Gay Harden as Lydia Barcroft, Fred's Daughter
Chris Noth as Jack, Lydia's Husband
Jared Gilman as Michael, Fred's Grandson
Scott Bakula as Raymond Hayes, Elsa's Eldest Son
Deanna Meske as Laura Hayes, Raymond's Wife
McCartney Bisgard as Carla Hayes
Erika Alexander as Laverne
Reg Rogers as Alec Hayes, Elsa's Youngest Son
George Segal as John, Fred's Doctor and Friend
James Brolin as Max Hayes, Elsa's Estranged Husband
Wendell Pierce as Armande, The Building Superintendent
Osvaldo Ríos as Doctor

Production

The film was shot on location in New Orleans because of tax incentives, according to MacLaine.^[3] Plummer declared he does not consider it a remake of the 2005 film, as "Shirley and I, and Michael totally rewrote it. So I prefer to think of it as the English-language version."^[3]

The scene in Rome where MacLaine and Plummer wade into the Trevi Fountain is shot in black and white, to mimic the corresponding scene in La Dolce Vita.

Release and reception

During the 2014 Miami International Film Festival in March, Elsa & Fred received a "roaring response", according to John Anderson of IndieWire.^[3] In September, at the 2014 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, it was awarded the Audience Choice Award.^[4] However, Rich Heldenfels said the film "was not well received" and pointed out that reviews "are mostly negative".^[5]

The film was released by Millennium Entertainment in the United States on November 7, 2014 in select theaters.^[6]

References

^ Andreeva, Nellie; Pedersen, Erik (March 23, 2021). "George Segal Dies: Oscar-Nominated Actor & 'The Goldbergs' Star Was 87". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
^ "George Segal, Leading Man of Lighthearted Comedies, Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. March 24, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Anderson, John (March 8, 2014). "Miami Film Fest: Plummer & MacLaine Star in 'Elsa & Fred'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^ "Cinéfest Sudbury hands out hardware". Northern Life. Laurentian Media Group. September 24, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^ Heldenfels, Rich (February 7, 2015). "Mailbag: MacLaine movie; 'Dallas' ends; where is David Gregory?". Akron Beacon-Journal. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015.
^ Jones, Stephanie (October 2014). "'Elsa & Fred' Starts Limited Run November 7". PCM. Retrieved October 30, 2014.

External links

[1] Andreeva, Nellie; Pedersen, Erik (March 23, 2021). "George Segal Dies: Oscar-Nominated Actor & 'The Goldbergs' Star Was 87". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 23, 2021.

[2] "George Segal, Leading Man of Lighthearted Comedies, Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. March 24, 2021.

[iw-3] Anderson, John (March 8, 2014). "Miami Film Fest: Plummer & MacLaine Star in 'Elsa & Fred'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.

[4] "Cinéfest Sudbury hands out hardware". Northern Life. Laurentian Media Group. September 24, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.

[5] Heldenfels, Rich (February 7, 2015). "Mailbag: MacLaine movie; 'Dallas' ends; where is David Gregory?". Akron Beacon-Journal. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015.

[6] Jones, Stephanie (October 2014). "'Elsa & Fred' Starts Limited Run November 7". PCM. Retrieved October 30, 2014.

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