No. 44 (2018) Tea With The Dames (Nothing Like a Dame) May 21st.

Film No 44 (2018) May 21st.  6:30 PM  LUNA PALACE Windsor,  Nedlands . 

"I'm still hanging in for that" (Dame Maggie Smith's reaction to Joan Plowright's recollection of a director telling Smith she'd be discovered then re-discovered again during the 50's).

This fly on the wall portrait of four of Britain's most decorated artists of screen and television both entertains and enlightens in a surprising fashion. I say surprising because the thought of a film in which four octogenarian actors sit around gossiping about their past didn't set me in an anticipatory sweat. My favourite of the four, Maggie Smith, is the clown of the gaggle. Her sharp wit and impeccable timing give the film colour. The reason Joan Plowright is seen so rarely on screen now is very evident and her recollections of life with Sir Laurence are revealing. They joke about Dame Judy taking  all the available roles these days through which Dench sits, unmoved with a knowing grin on her face. And the least known internationally, Eileen Atkins (Queen Mary, The Crown), pleasantly glues many of the conversations together with her sharp recollections. This film will get its best following when released to public T.V. in nine or so months me thinks. 8GUMS.