Quartet movie storyline. It’s 1927 Paris. Following the conviction of her art dealer husband, Stephan Zelli (Anthony Higgins), for theft for which he was handed a one-year prison sentence, Marya Zelli (Isabelle Adjani), originally from West India, moves in with her acquaintances, expatriate Brits H.J. (Sir Alan Bates) and Lois Heidler (Dame Maggie Smith). Marya knows that H.J. in particular has more in mind than just providing her lodging out of the goodness of his heart.
From behind bars, Stephan encourages Marya to move in with them, not knowing H.J.’s intentions. Marya agrees in part because she, being a foreigner, cannot get work and would thus become destitute otherwise. She learns she is the latest in a long line of lodgers. She also learns that H.J. and Lois’ marriage is not all that it appears on the surface.
The Heidler’s hold on Marya becomes stronger when they convince her that Stephan not only has no money, but has no future in France after his release. Their collective lives become more complicated when Stephan is released from jail and tries to figure out what he’s going to do with his life to regain the high standard of living to which he became accustomed.
Quartet is a 1981 Merchant Ivory Film, starring Maggie Smith, Isabelle Adjani, Anthony Higgins, and Alan Bates, set in 1927 Paris. It premiered at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, and was an entry for the Sélection Officielle (Official Selection). It was adapted from the novel of the same name by Jean Rhys.
Quartet (1981)
Directed by: James Ivory
Starring: Maggie Smith, Alan Bates, Isabelle Adjani, Sheila Gish, Anthony Higgins, Suzanne Flon, Sébastien Floche, Daniel Chatto, Paulita Sedgwick, Bernice Stegers, Isabelle Canto da Maya
Screenplay by: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Production Design by: Jean-Jacques Caziot
Cinematography by: Pierre Lhomme
Film Editing by: Humphrey Dixon
Costume Design by: Judy Moorcroft
Music by: Richard Robbins
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: New World Pictures (US), Gaumont (France)
Release Date: October 25, 1981 (US)
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