Piccadilly [re-release] 2004

It’s the 1930s, where we meet the fiercely competitive sisters: Eugenia Crocker (Allison Janney) and Nesta Pett (Brenda Blethyn). Both are extremely wealthy and have a mutual dislike for one another. Their latest round of one-upmanship has Nesta plotting to marry off her niece by marriage, poetess turned crime novelist Ann Chester (Frances O’Connor), to the Lord Reginald “Wizzy” Wisbeach (Kevin Eldon). However, this scheming does not align with Ann’s wishes, as she has no feelings for the stuffy lord. Although Nesta resides in NYC, she has traveled to London to assist in this matchmaking affair.

In London, Eugenia, who is now married to Bingley (Tom Wilkinson), is on her own quest to buy a royal title. She seeks to establish connections with the aristocracy, inviting prominent figures such as the Duchess of Arminster (Delia Lindsay), the Duke of Arminster (James Wallace), and others to her grand mansion. However, her ambitions are often hampered by the notorious reputation of her stepson, James Crocker (Sam Rockwell), famously known as Piccadilly Jim. His past as a columnist is riddled with scandal and he is labeled a womanizer and gambler. After an altercation with Percy, Eugenia is mortified when he arrives at her home and gets into yet another fight.

During an unexpected visit, Nesta mocks Eugenia for Jim’s wild antics, but Eugenia reminds her that Jim is best friends with Wizzy, the very match Nesta is striving for. Confusion erupts when Nesta initially mistakes Bingley for the butler. Jim feels compelled to change his ways when he experiences love at first sight with an enchanting American – Ann. But their romantic path is rocky, as Ann bears a grudge against Piccadilly Jim, who once slandered her poetry under the guise of his previous writing. Despite their mutual attraction, Ann cannot shake off her disdain.

Misunderstandings multiply when Jim, under the alias of Algernon Bayliss, aims to woo Ann without revealing his true identity. A chance meeting at a nightclub leads to more trouble when Jim finds himself in yet another brawl involving Percy, further tarnishing his name. Determined to win Ann’s affection, Jim plans to follow her to NYC. However, a series of comedic twists ensue, with Ann suspecting Bayliss to be Jim’s father.

Despite her reservations about love, Ann gradually finds herself enchanted by Bayliss, even as she secretly longs for a touch of danger in their romance. Meanwhile, Nesta encounters Wizzy again in NYC, unaware of his covert operations. As the plot unravels, tensions rise, including Jim concocting a scheme to kidnap Ogden, Nesta’s spoiled son, to instill some respectability into his life. As secrets emerge and romantic pursuits intensify, Jim discovers that true love may require taking bold actions.

When the truth about Wizzy is revealed, along with Jim’s identity, chaos ensues, but ultimately, love prevails. Ann forgives Jim, recognizing his adventurous spirit. They decide to marry while Eugenia successfully secures her royal title, moving to a home just three doors down from Nesta, setting the stage for future rivalries and comedic encounters.