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
The story centers on Norma Carlisle, a middle-aged woman who chaperones the teenage Louise Brooks, who ventures to New York City to study dance at the Denishawn school.
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.
Critical reception
The Chaperone holds approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews, with an average of . 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".