How a 1938 novel became a 2008 romantic comedy after a sixty-year delay
In short: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day follows a destitute governess navigating the chaotic love life of a glamorous actress in pre-war London. While the film feels like a classic 1930s romp, its journey to the screen was a decades-long saga that began with a shelved project in 1939.
The film is based on the 1938 novel by Winifred Watson. Its path to production was remarkably circuitous; Watson originally sold the film rights to Universal Pictures in 1939. The studio initially intended to develop the story as a musical starring Billie Burke, but the project was abandoned following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although Universal renewed the rights in 1954, the property remained dormant for decades until producer Stephen Garrett rediscovered the book and partnered with Nellie Bellflower to bring the adaptation to Focus Features.
Set in London just before World War II, the story centers on Guinevere Pettigrew, a straitlaced governess who finds herself acting as a social secretary for the flamboyant American actress Delysia Lafosse. Guinevere must help Delysia manage three competing suitors: a penniless pianist, a theatre impresario, and a wealthy, controlling nightclub owner. As she is swept into high society, Guinevere is forced to reconcile her strict upbringing with the complex, often messy moral landscape of her new environment.
Critics praised the film for its period-accurate aesthetic and strong lead performances. Stephen Holden of The New York Times lauded the casting, noting Frances McDormand’s transformation from stoic governess to a woman of radiance, and comparing Amy Adams’s screen presence to the intensity of Jean Arthur. While the film takes place in 1939, it features anachronistic musical choices, such as a 1945 recording of the song "Dream" playing in the background. Despite its long development, the film achieved a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned over $16 million at the worldwide box office.
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