MovieChat Forums > All Passion Spent (1989) Discussion > Lady Slane becomes a tenant

Lady Slane becomes a tenant

posted 17 years ago by robleda
6 replies | jump to latest

I have watched this charming movie at least twice a year for 20 years, and still look forward to the next time. One small detail has me perplexed, and perhaps someone more familiar with the customs in England around 1900 can answer it.
Lady Slane is renting Mr. Bucktrout's house - she is not buying it. Why then is she paying for all the many extensive structural improvements? Personal decorating (paint and wallpaper) I understand, but replacing plaster and rebuilding the bathroom I would think would be the owner's responsibility, not the tenant's
To finish on a positive note, I rate this as one of the really fine productions ever done for TV. The story, the actors, the music, the sets - all first class. If you haven't seen it - do yourself a favour and do so now.

Bruce Sproul
Victoria, BC
Canada

[–] thatsnumberwang 17 years ago

You've seen it many more times than I have, but I wasn't under the impression that she was paying for the remodeling at all. In fact, didn't Mr. Bucktrout say something to the extent that he was waiting to do the improvements for a suitable tenant? I think most likely he was just being a very generous landlord and allowing her input into what wallpapers were being chosen, what paint was used, etc.

Of course by the end of the show, she could well afford to have razed the house to the ground and build it again brand new, but I still don't think she paid for the work.

http://saucybetty.blogspot.com

[–] imdbforums-2 16 years ago

Thank you for posting this. My mother just got this from Netflix, watched it four times (once with her friend) and the only thing they couldn't figure out was the question you answered. I showed her this post and she was delighted to have the answer. Thanks again!

[–] catkin77 16 years ago

I don't think this is correct. There is a lengthy discussion between Mr Bucktrout and the builder where Mr. Bucktrout tells him that he must keep the costs low because although Lady Slane is indeed aristocratic, she does not have much money. And Mr. Bucktrout states that he will be checking the prices given to Lady Slane on her behalf to make sure that she is not overcharged.

[–] tripRworld 16 years ago

This part had me perplexed, also. Mr. Bucktrout does tell the renovator to keep costs low. I just chalked it up to they do things differently in Brittain in the 1930's. The renovator had his truck with the statements that he did remodeling and upholstering, and since Lady Slane bought new furniture with light colors...I figured maybe they were splitting costs --- Bucktrout paying for the remodeling, and Lady Slane for the redecorating.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dog112 11 years ago

They had an unusual arrangement. Bucktrout preferred proper tenants more than a profitable enterprise. He wanted to leave the decision making and the responsibility to them. He charged a nominal rent.

The house had been vacant for years.

Instead of reducing rent after the fact for tenants who make improvements, he reduced it up front for responsible tenants with good judgment, and let them have at it.

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