The Remains of The Day (film) - Differences From The Novel

Differences From The Novel

The film compresses the time frame of the novel considerably, offering a far less subtle treatment of Anglo-German relations between the wars than the novel. In the novel the conference at Darlington Hall takes place in 1923, prompted by concerns that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles was unduly vindictive, and therefore has no direct connection with the Nazis or appeasement. In the novel the two Jewish servants who are dismissed are not German and are therefore in no danger of being sent back to Germany, and Lord Darlington's order to dismiss them is prompted by his brief infatuation with an anti-Semitic woman. When this is over he renounces his action and attempts to make reparations to the girls.

Mr Lewis, the American Congressman who calls Lord Darlington an amateur, is seen as the owner of Darlington Hall in the movie after the peer's demise. In the novel, however, the Hall is owned by an American called Mr Farraday who lends Stevens his Ford for the motoring trip.

In addition, the scene where Ms. Kenton is crying is off-scene in the novel, and Mr. Stevens does not interrupt it to talk about domestic matters; instead he debates entering but walks off - in that sense, he is shown as less hard-hearted than in the movie.