The Chaperone

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1:44

The Chaperone

Released Mar 29, 2019

1h 43m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

48%

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58 Reviews

72%

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50+ Ratings

Louise Brooks is a rebellious 15-year-old schoolgirl who dreams of fame and fortune in the early 1920s. She soon gets her chance when she travels to New York to study with a leading dance troupe for the summer -- accompanied by a watchful chaperone.

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Critics Consensus

The Chaperone is inspired by a potentially interesting real-life story, but loses its sharpest and timeliest angles in the telling.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

All the corny romance stuff is about as intrinsic to the film’s soft appeal as the scrupulously well-made frocks, encompassing late Edwardian lace and flapper-style dropwaist numbers, and dozens of well-turned cloche hats.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 15, 2022

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Verne Gay

Newsday

If "The Chaperone" accomplishes anything, that will be to send viewers scrambling to Google to learn more about this extraordinary woman.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 22, 2019

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John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

I'm not an Elizabeth McGovern completist, but it may be the best thing she's ever done.

Nov 22, 2019

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Charles Koplinski

Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam

Going into this film, I expected a typical stoic period piece, only to be emotionally riveted by the unfolding story.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Nov 20, 2020

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

... it's a pleasant, moderately touching film ...

Oct 21, 2020

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

Neither of their stories seems essential as a record of Hollywood history, but combined there's something captivating as the film weaves tales of lost innocence and shifting morals.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 21, 2020

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Noourhan A.

Such a good film about a great actress it’s really a great story about breaking boundaries and living for ourselves and our happiness The filming and the story telling were average

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Daniel G

Really nice period piece, with acting that was clearly a work of love and dedication of the professionals involved, with a pretty soundtrack and good rythm. Not really world-changing or having some all-encompassing message.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/19/22

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Frances H

Elizabeth McGovern really made this movie special as both the chaperone and the young Louise Brooks made their own journeys of discovery one summer in the 1920s in new Yorik. Both women find what they want and the chaperone comes to her charges rescue in their later lives as well. Very well done!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/18/22

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tom m

This was reasonably entertaining. I'm a fan of Elizabeth McGovern and she did not disappoint in this film. Not a great film, but entertaining enough.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Elizabeth McGovern is such a sensitive actor, always a pleasure to watch, and the script gives her enough to work with, though it could be a good deal better. Haley Richardson is fine in the role of Louise Brooks but I really didn't get Geza Rohrig in this, first of all he's supposed to be German and he clearly is Eastern European do the filmmakers have so little respect for the audience that they don't think we can tell the difference? His lines seem to be muffled as well. He's a good actor, but seems miscast here. A passing TV drama, an interesting idea and McGovern lifts it, but overall disappointing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

I very much enjoyed this film and I'm not usually a fan of films set in this time period. The actress who portrays Norma was captivating to me, she kept me watching, made me laugh and cry.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Michael Engler

Director

Elizabeth McGovern

Norma

Haley Lu Richardson

Louise Brooks

Victoria Hill

Myra Brooks

Géza Röhrig

Joseph

Blythe Danner

Mary O'Dell

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The Chaperone: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Louise Brooks is a rebellious 15-year-old schoolgirl who dreams of fame and fortune in the early 1920s. She soon gets her chance when she travels to New York to study with a leading dance troupe for the summer -- accompanied by a watchful chaperone.

Director: Michael Engler
Producer: Kelly Carmichael, Greg Clark, Rose Ganguzza, Victoria Hill, Elizabeth McGovern, Luca Scalisi
Screenwriter: Julian Fellowes
Distributor: PBS Distribution, Masterpiece Films
Production Co: WGBH Boston, Anonymous Content, Rose Pictures, PBS, Fibonacci Films
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $599.6K
Runtime: 1h 43m

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