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Impromptu Details

FULL SYNOPSIS

Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin, better known in the literary world as George Sand, not only took a man's name, but trotted around wearing pants and smoking cigars in public. No great shakes today, but in the 1800s she was perhaps the most famous (or infamous) woman in the world. One of the first original celebrities, aside from her garb and literary output, she was known to inspire many duels and broken hearts among other famous hedonist artists. One character describes her in Impromptu, as "that graveyard." The film engages in a sexual roundelay among Sand's (Judy Davis) many friends -- Eugene Delacroix (Ralph Brown), Alfred DeMusset (Mandy Patinkin), Franz Liszt (Julian Sands), and Frederick Chopin (Hugh Grant). The entire crew heads off to the summer estate of the Duke and Duchess d'Antan (Anton Rodgers and Emma Thompson), invited there by the culture-vulture hosts. Sand takes a bead on the sickly Chopin and spends her time throwing herself at him. Also on hand is Liszt's mistress Marie d'Agoult (Bernadette Peters) and Felicien Mallefille (Georges Corraface), Sand's recently jilted lover. Mallefille is jealous of any of the other guests who glance in Sand's direction and continually challenges them to duels. Marie, on the other hand, is enlisted by Sand to deliver a note to Chopin. But Marie, jealous of Sand, delivers the note substituting her name for Sand's. And as the weekend continues, the sexual merry-go-round continues at full tilt. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

  • Release date:April 12, 1991

Awards

Awarded by
Nominee
Category
Year
Status
Independent Spirit Awards Emma Thompson Best Supporting Actress 1991 Nominee
Independent Spirit Awards Judy Davis Best Actress 1991 Winner

Cast

Judy Davis
as George Sand
Hugh Grant
as Frederic Chopin
Mandy Patinkin
as Alfred DeMusset
Bernadette Peters
as Marie D'Agoult
Julian Sands
as Franz Liszt
Emma Thompson
as Duchess D'Antan
Ralph Brown
as Eugene Delacroix
Georges Corraface
as Felicien Mallefille
Anton Rodgers
as Duke D'Antan
Anna Massey
as George Sand's Mother
John Savident
as Buloz
Elizabeth Spriggs
as Baroness Laginsky
Claude Berthy
as Chopin's Valet
Stuart Seide
as Clerk
Georges Bruce
as Doctor
Fernand Guiot
as Butler
Fiona Vincente
as Solange
Sylvie Herbert
as Sophie
Francois Lalande
as Local Doctor
Nimer Rashed
as Didiar
John Lyons
Lucy Speed
as Aurore
André Chaumeau
as Priest
Isabelle Guiard
as Princess
David Birkin
as Maurice
Jean-Michel Dagory
as Inn Keeper
Annette Milsom
as Ursule
Joanna Merlin
Nicholas Hawtrey
as Philosopher
Jezabelle Amato
as Inn Keeper's Wife

Crew

James Lapine
Director
Jean Nachbaur
Producer
Daniel A. Sherkow
Producer
Stuart Oken
Producer
Sarah Kernochan
Screenwriter
Bruno de Keyzer
Cinematographer
Peter Glossop
Musical Direction/Supervision
Franz Liszt
Featured Music
Michael Ellis
Editor
Gerard Daoudal
Art Director
Alain Pitrel
Set Designer
Jenny Beavan
Costume Designer
Mario Luraschi
Stunts
Jean-Luc Russier
Makeup
Cedric Gerard
Makeup
Dominique Plez
Makeup
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