Merchant-Ivory's beautifully crafted film is a very English piece, full of choked-back, unspoken emotions. Anthony Hopkins is perfectly cast as the uptight butler in a 1930s stately home, where the housekeeper (Emma Thompson) forms a relationship with him that develops into one of mutual respect and affection, which he can't express. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's screenplay, faithful to Kazuo Ishiguro's book, arrows unerringly to a heartrending conclusion. Brilliant performances by the principals are backed up by good support, especially from Peter Vaughan as butler's father. Eight Oscar nominations but no wins.

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