# The Chaperone (2018 film)

The Chaperone is a 2018 period drama film, directed by Michael Engler, with a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, from the novel by Laura Moriarty. It stars Elizabeth McGovern, Haley Lu Richardson, Miranda Otto, Blythe Danner, Campbell Scott, Géza Röhrig and Victoria Hill.
It had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 23, 2018. It was released on March 29, 2019, by PBS Distribution.

## Plot

In 1922 teen Louise Brooks, invited to study dance at the Denishawn school in NYC, must find a chaperone to go. Fellow Wichita, KS resident, middle-aged Norma Carlisle, volunteers after watching her recital.
Norma's husband is concerned about her going to NYC, but their sons support her. At the rail station, the couple have a strained goodbye. Louise's father reminds her that her stay in NYC depends on Norma.
On their journey, Norma and Louise learn about each other. The younger constantly questions everything, while the other toes the line. Norma dreams about her childhood train trip from NYC when she met her adoptive family in Kansas. Waking alone, she finds Louise dining with a young man and his uncle. Discussing prohibition. Norma is the only one supporting it.
Later, in their sleeper cabin, Norma reminds Louise she must avoid being with men without a chaperone. Then says men only marry 'untouched' women, which Louise sees as extremely antiquated. As Norma's adoptive parents died when she was a teen, she married soon after meeting Mr. Carlisle. Louise senses Norma's unhappiness, although she denies it.
In NYC, Louise loves the noise and bustle, but Norma is uncomfortable. The younger woman wants to explore, but the other insists they stay in, as her first class is early. After walking Louise to class, Norma meets Floyd who works there while a Columbia student. When she shows him a 15th Street address, he warns her it is a dangerous area.
The young dancers at Denishawn school are reminded they mustn't drink or smoke, to be always perceived as pure and untarnished. Meanwhile, Norma finds her old nun-run orphanage seeking her birth mother's contact info, but is turned away. Another flashback, of Mr. Carlisle, reveals his infidelity.
After Louise becomes the lead, Norma finds her flirting with Floyd in the diner. When the older complains of her corset, she proclaims she will never wear one. Norma follows Louise's example, flirting with the orphanage's handyman Joseph Schmidt to gain access to her file. He explains over tea that he lost custody of his daughter Greta when her mother died while he was briefly imprisoned after WWI. Broke, Joseph works there to stay close. Norma convinces him to let her into the office one day when everyone is at mass.
Norma finds a letter from Mary O'Dell in the file, requesting updates of her daughter, which includes a MA address. She offers to pay Joseph in thanks, but he refuses. Louise notices Norma's good mood, who says she's writing an old friend for a visit.
Ted often singles Louise out, as he sees her as a rising-star, for everyone to emulate. His partner and wife Ms. St. Denis suggests he curb his enthusiasm.
At the theatre, Norma is surprised the audience is not segregated at the show of black performers. As they leave the theatre later, they are both enthralled. Norma's perception of NYC has changed, now accustomed to the hustle and bustle, she suspects Wichita will seem dull on her return. She apologizes for her previous attitude, then explains she married her lawyer Mr. Carlisle when she was orphaned again at 16.
In their rooms, Norma finds Louise's very negative postcard about her, which was written early on. Norma does not yell, as it doesn't accomplish anything. Another flashback reveals her husband had married her to stifle his homosexuality, but was unsuccessful. Norma threw him out.
Joseph is pleased Norma meets him in Central Park, and happy to help find her roots. She gets an answer to her letter, while Louise is invited to perform in Philadelphia. Excited, Norma meets her mother Mary, but saddens upon realizing she was anxious to leave her and wants no further contact.
After the Philly performance rehearsal, Norma discovers Louise is being considered for Denishawn's dance troupe, which includes housing in a boarding house. Miss Ruth reminds Norma the offer is contingent upon Denishawn's positive aesthetic code.
Louise goes out with Floyd to celebrate, so Norma gets Joseph to help return the missing dancer to their rooms. Drunk, Louise vomits then confesses she lost her virginity to an older man in Wichita. In the morning, the hungover girl wants to call in sick, but Norma won't let her blow her shot. Floyd tries to apologize, but Norma suggests he forget Louise.
Another flashback to Mr. Carlisle has him explaining that if they divorced, due to his homosexuality, he would be murdered and she, humiliated. She spends the night with Joseph at the orphanage. As a nun sees her leave in the morning, later Joseph and Greta show up at the apartment. As Louise is moving in with the troupe and Norma is returning to Wichita, she proposes they both tag along, telling everyone they're siblings.
In Wichita, 20 years later, Norma finds Louise hiding at her parents' as her career has tanked. Thanking her for her past help, she gives her $100 to return to NYC to start over.
Louise eventually reinvents herself, becoming a best-selling writer. Two of her silent films can still be found today.

## Cast

* Elizabeth McGovern as Norma (The Chaperone)
* Haley Lu Richardson as Louise Brooks
* Miranda Otto as Ruth St. Denis
* Blythe Danner as Mary O'Dell
* Campbell Scott as Alan Carlisle
* Géza Röhrig as Joseph
* Victoria Hill as Myra Brooks
* Matt McGrath as Raymond
* Robert Fairchild as Ted Shawn
* Tyler Weaks as Howard Carlisle
* Kate Grimes as Ms. Burton
* Andrew Burnap as Floyd
* Bill Hoag as Jack
* Ellen Toland as Greta
* George Hampe as Earl Carlisle
* Sean Hudock as Norman Ross
* Vinson German as Music Hall Man
* Becky Ann Baker as Lois

## Production

In February 2013, it was announced Elizabeth McGovern would star in the film, with Simon Curtis directing from a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, based upon the novel by Laura Moriarty, with McGovern, Curtis, Eli Selden, and Adam Shulman producing under their Anonymous Content banner. Fox Searchlight Pictures would distribute the film. In May 2017, it was announced Michael Engler would direct the film, instead of Curtis, who remained as executive producer on the film. Masterpiece, Altus Media, and Rose Pictures produced the film, with PBS Distribution distributing it. The film received a theatrical release prior to airing on PBS. Victoria Hill, Greg Clark, Luca Scalisi, Rose Ganguzza, Kelly Carmichael and Gary Hamilton also served as producers on the film.

### Filming

Principal photography began in August 2017.

## Release

The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 23, 2018. It was released on March 29, 2019. On PBS, the film premiered on November 24, 2019 (part of Masterpiece Classic).

## Critical reception

The Chaperone holds a 47% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 58 reviews, with an average of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Chaperone is inspired by a potentially interesting real-life story, but loses its sharpest and timeliest angles in the telling." On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 48 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".