Lady Hester's is a fantasy that never threatens to crumble. She restores time-worn frescoes in old churches and is is never without her faithful dog. She gets hysterical and a little crazy sometimes, but she is dedicated and sincere. Dench is a cinch for laughs. And there are the Americans who are part of this unusual group.
Life is all champagne bubbles and having fun.
Elsa is played by Cher, who has never been better in a movie. She is delightful. You want to throw your arms around her young Auntie Mame and hug her tightly. Her dresses and gowns are a highlight of the film and a reminder that before he was a director Zefferelli was a costume designer for Italian film-maker Luchino Visconti. At the core of the plot is Plowright, who agrees to take care of her employer's motherless son while he pursues his hedonistic pleasures.