ThinkFilm has picked up USrights to the ensemble comedy Keeping Mum, starring Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith and PatrickSwayze.

The company plans aSeptember release on the film, which stars Atkinson as an absent-mindedvicar whose family troubles appear to be solved by the arrival of amysterious housekeeper.

Keeping Mum was directed by Niall Johnson, who co-wrote thescreenplay with Richard Russo based on a story by Russo. Julia Palau andMatthew Payne produced the film.

ThinkFilm's executive vicepresident of acquisitions and business affairs Randy Manis and vicepresident of business and legal affairsRichard Rapkowski negotiated the dealwith Summit CEO Patrick Wachsberger.

'In the tradition of ArsenicAnd Old Lace and some of the classiccomedies from England's great Ealing Studios, Keeping Mum is the perfect blend of wit and wickedness, and italso boasts a dream cast,' ThinkFilm's domestic distribution chiefMark Urman said.