"Bernard And Doris"
"Bernard And Doris Trailer" - First Look
"Bernard And Doris" - Debuts on HBO February 9, 2008
"Bernard And Doris" - In 1987, Irish butler Bernard Lafferty (Ralph Fiennes) arrived at the doorstep of tobacco heiress Doris Duke (Susan Sarandon). Fresh out of rehab and without a penny to his name, he faced an uphill battle in convincing his notoriously demanding boss to keep him on staff. A mere six years later, he had not only managed to remain employed, but had been granted control over Duke’s billion-dollar fortune. What might have happened during those in-between years is the subject of
"Bernard And Doris," debuting Saturday 9 February (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. While
"Bernard And Doris" explores issues of money, class and sexuality, at its core this HBO Films’ presentation is the imagined story of an extraordinary relationship between two real-life individuals who don’t fit into each other’s worlds.
STARRING: Ralph Fiennes, Susan Sarandon
DIRECTOR: Bob Balaban
STUDIO: HBO Films
RATING: R (Language)
THEATER COUNT (Opening Weekend): NA
RUNNING TIME: 1hr. 45 min.
TOTAL DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: NA
U.S. DVD RELEASE DATE: TBD
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"Bernard And Doris"
Behind The Scenes
The Story
Doris Duke [Susan Sarandon] was a legendary society maverick, known for her inherited wealth, her extravagances, her philanthropy, and her bon vivant social lifestyle. When tobacco baron James (“Buck”) Buchanan Duke died – at the hands of her conniving mother – as Doris would tell it, he left his 12-year-old daughter a multi-millionairess who would want for nothing and would live a life of privilege, position and luxury.
Doris’ two failed marriages, a child who died at birth, and a lifestyle of eccentric spending, meaningless trysts and an abundance of alcohol and drugs leave her lonely and emotionally unfulfilled. Her only solace and real pleasure comes from her beloved orchids, which she tenderly mothers. Until Bernard Lafferty [Ralph Fiennes] enters her life.
Bernard, a shy, unassuming, penniless Irish butler, has served famous celebrities and is now a recovering alcoholic. Like Doris’ orchids, the very formal, quiet Bernard blossoms in the glow of the friendship and playful affection that Doris bestows on him. In turn, he showers her with attentiveness and concern, tending to her every whim, becoming a helpmate and constant companion.
Doris uses her money to travel the world, communing with spiritual advisers and Indian mystics. When Doris enjoys an extended solo trip, it becomes clear that the fixated Bernard is completely lost without his muse and the day-to-day ritual of tending to her. He allows himself to sink into his alcoholic past, becoming careless with his usually impeccable appearance and his professional duties.
Upon her return, and after an especially flagrant display of Bernard’s drunkenness, Doris sends him back to rehab, insisting that he cannot return to work until she says he’s ready.
After Doris suffers a crippling stroke, Bernard rushes to her side to learn that she is dying of degenerative heart disease and malnutrition. Bernard is once again her butler, taking on the normal household duties and administering her medications. In his diligence to oversee her recuperation, Bernard bans all visitors and phone calls, including those from her lawyer Waldo [James Rebhorn]. Fearing for Doris’ safety, Waldo and the police barge in, suspicious of Bernard’s motives. Waldo is concerned about Bernard’s influence over Doris and worries that the butler might be manipulating her fortune. After he persuades Doris to hire a live-in nurse, Bernard revolts, insisting that he alone can care for her and threatens to leave if she brings in anyone else.
During this emotional confrontation, Doris admits she would not risk losing him and would choose him above all others.
The ever-doting Bernard sees to Doris’ comfort and care right up until the end, attending to her final needs and easing her transition into death. The next day, Bernard takes her ashes to the beach and scatters them over the water.
Prior to her death, Doris made Bernard sole executor and primary beneficiary of her massive estate, setting into motion a tumultuous lawsuit and various allegations surrounding her death. Bernard died three years later.
About the Production
BERNARD AND DORIS filmed on Long Island for six chilly weeks on a miniscule budget. Jokes director Bob Balaban, “Doris Duke left her dogs more money than we had to make the movie!” Old Westbury Gardens, once the estate of the Phipps family, was used as the main set.
According to Susan Sarandon, “Getting this movie made was almost like a Judy Garland movie. ‘Let’s put on a show in a barn,’ you know? There was absolutely no money involved in making this film, and we shot four scenes a day. It’s an absolute miracle that it pulled together, but there is something very freeing about guerrilla filmmaking.”
Favors were called in from everywhere. Clothes were borrowed from the closets of high-powered friends; Fendi sent furs; Bulgari lent jewels worthy of a billionairess, plus a guard to watch over them. Cristolfe lent silver. Balaban met a young fashion designer in the subway who admired the actor-director’s career. Two weeks later, Balaban returned the compliment and Sarandon, as Duke, was running down the steps in one of Eric Gaskins’ original creations.
Balaban notes, “Susan finds a way to inhabit this elusive character and makes the audience feel as though they are meeting the real Doris Duke. She gives a flawless performance. Ralph Fiennes manages to make Bernard eccentric, emotionally volatile, and yet strangely vulnerable and likeable. Getting these two great actors in the room together was the reason why I made this movie. It is magical watching real chemistry when it happens. I imagine that the chemistry between Susan and Ralph might have been something like the chemistry between Bernard and Doris. Of course, no one really knows what they saw in each other. And so we set out to invent the details of their personal relationship.”
“Every movie that I’ve ever done has been a love story of some sort, and BERNARD AND DORIS is no exception,” says Sarandon. “For me, one of the bravest things two people can do is reach out and in some way, open themselves up to another human being. This is the story of two people who are terribly damaged and very different, but for whatever reason, the ‘funny foot needs a funny shoe’ philosophy kicks in and they find each other. They have similar pain and similar humor, and found a way to pair up and make their lives a lot richer. It’s clear that they adored each other.”
Ralph Fiennes describes the relationship between Bernard and Doris as “a platonic love story – the deep friendship between two very unusual people. She needed him and he needed her.” He continues, “Bernard, I think, was an eccentric, lonely, fragile, generous, extravagant spirit. And I think the same could be said of Doris.”
Of working with director Balaban, Fiennes says, “Bob is a lovely, easy, gentle spirit who, being an actor himself, is completely in tune with whether or not something doesn’t feel right. It’s wonderful to hear a director say, ‘Now tell me, what’s not working for you?’ He’s very flexible and intuitive. This film was a labor of love for Bob, and quite frankly, for all of us.”
