Bed & Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast was made back in 1989 but only got a limited release in 1992, I haven't seen it on video or DVD but I managed to catch it on an afternoon on British TV.

It's one of the only Roger Moore films I hadn't seen, so it was a joy to see him here in his first post Bond film (he seemed to semi-retire after A View to a Kill). He's always had a knack of looking ten years younger than what he really was so he's well cast as a healthy tanned charming English gent(but of course)who enters the lives of 3 generations of women, a widow, Talia Shire, her mother in law, Colleen Dewhurst and daughter, Nina Siemasko, when he's washed ashore mysteriously.

We know that he's in some sort of trouble as there's a rather badly staged scene where he's being beaten up and thrown overboard a yacht, but to the three women, he a breath of fresh air to their individually frustrated lives. Claiming he has Amnesia to avoid explaining his situation the women welcome him into their coastal guest house where he begins to recieve free board and food if he agrees to be the man about the house and fix up the place.

This is quite a gentle small scale picture with good performances and it proves that Moore has got genuine charm rather than depending on his ultra smooth or sleazy Bond style approach. This is not Oscar worthy stuff but this forgotten little gem should be given more recognition and Moore should be considered a better actor than he usually is.

The fault of this movie lies though with the lack of thrills, it is obviously a romantic tale, but we don't seem to discover what Moore's character is really up to and the ending seems a little half hearted..

Roger Moore (who, incidentally, has always been my favorite Bond)gives a relaxed and enjoyable performance, and he seems to be in surprisingly good shape, too, considering his age. But the rest of the film is dull, awkwardly directed, with a needless "crime movie" subplot. Talia Shire gives her typical performance.

Bed and Breakfast is one of the few films that Roger Moore made following his departure from the James Bond hotseat in 1985, after A View to a Kill. At the height of his popularity (and employment) in the 1970s, Moore was frequently criticised for giving simplistic performances in roles which demanded virtually nothing of his talents. Ironically, this film features perhaps his best performance of all, yet was made at a time when he appeared in hardly any films at all.

The story is undeniably slight, but diverting all the same. It tells of a con man (Moore) who is washed ashore - bruised and beaten after being thrown off a gangster's yacht - on a beach in Maine. The nearest building is a ramshackle bed and breakfast hotel run by three generations of women, all from the same family and all constantly bickering about their (unimpressive) lot in life. Moore talks his way into their lives and awakens long repressed sexuality in all three of them. Then, predictably, the gangsters he was involved with earlier turn up and threaten his ruse....

The gangster subplot is quite hokey and does little to increase the interest of the picture. The film would have been enjoyable enough without it. However, the inter-relationship between Moore and the three isolated, frustrated women makes for intriguing and occasionally heart warming viewing, and gives all the actors the chance to deliver some excellent dialogue. The background photography, capturing the lovely Maine seascapes, is a treat throughout.

Bed and Breakfast is a film that everyone should see. No classic, true enough, but definitely one of Moore's best films and a totally harmless and civilised way to while away a lazy afternoon.

"Bed & Breakfast" is a film that you'd assume would be pretty bad. After all, it has a score of 5.4 on IMDB...which is well below the IMDB average. However, I was shocked that I really enjoyed the film...even though some might hate that it's a bit predictable. But to me, that predictability isn't a bad thing...sort of like a romance novel that leaves you feeling good.

Three generations of women live in a house they use as a B&B in Maine. However, they are three miserable women. Ruth is the grandma (Colleen Dewhurst) is old...but longing for excitement, love and sex...but she's afraid it's all passed her by. Claire (Talia Shite) is the mother...and she's very uptight about sex and carries her dead husband's memory with her everywhere. And, Cassie (Nina Siemaszko) is Claire's daughter...and she longs to leave the repressive home, as her mother finds fault with so much that Cassie does. However, when a stranger literally washes up on the shore, this unusual man (Roger Moore) ends up impacted all three of their lives for the better.

Predictable? Sure...often. But romantic movies usually have a certain amount of formula to them...so I could forgive this. I liked the acting, the nice story and the way the film worked out at the end. A nice date movie...or just a nice movie.

By the way, this was Colleen Dewhurst's last film and it debuted just after her death. It's a nice ending to her long career.

This is one of the best romantic comedies I have seen. More of a romantic, and less of a comedy, never the less, Roger Moore is brilliant in his role of a "handy-man". The storyline is fine, and there are many moments in the movie that are simply very enjoyable. The performance is great, and the events and character's feelings in this movie are excellently backed up by David Shire's music. Overall, the movie and the music is great. I saw this movie on a local TV once or twice. Too bad I couldn't find this movie anywhere to buy, and after finding out that it had a very limited release on VHS/DVD... I think it's just too bad, because this is a movie worth having in the collection.