American Friends (1991)

Francis Ashby, a senior Oxford don on holiday alone in the Alps, meets holidaying American Caroline and her companion Elinor, the blossoming Irish-American girl she adopted many years ... See full summary »

Director:

Tristram Powell

Writers:

Michael Palin (story), Michael Palin (screenplay),

Stars:

Bryan Pringle, Fred Pearson, Michael Palin

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bryan Pringle	...	Haskell
Fred Pearson	...	Hapgood
Michael Palin	...	Reverend Francis Ashby
Alfred Molina	...	Oliver Syme
Susan Denaker	...	Mrs. Cantrell
Jonathan Firth	...	Cable
Ian Dunn	...	Gowers
Robert Eddison	...	Rushden - The President
David Calder	...	Pollitt
Simon Jones	...	Anderson
Charles McKeown	...	Maynard
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Dr. Butler
John Nettleton	...	Groves
Trini Alvarado	...	Miss Elinor Hartley
Connie Booth	...	Miss Caroline Hartley

Storyline

Francis Ashby, a senior Oxford don on holiday alone in the Alps, meets holidaying American Caroline and her companion Elinor, the blossoming Irish-American girl she adopted many years before. Ashby finds he enjoys their company, particularly that of Elinor, and both the women are drawn to him. Back at Oxford he is nevertheless taken aback when they arrive unannounced. Women are not allowed in the College grounds, let alone the rooms. Indeed any liaison, however innocent, is frowned on by the upstanding Fellows.

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Plot Keywords:

oxford | holiday | alps | american abroad | mountain | 

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Taglines:

Education in love

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language and sensuality

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amerikanische Freundinnen

Filming Locations:

Kanton Wallis, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), British Screen Productions, Mayday

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Miss Hartley was originally a much older woman and the role was offered to Anne Bancroft who turned it down. Ellen Burstyn was then offered the part before the character was completely rewritten.

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Soundtracks

"Schumann Lieder [Opus 25]"
By Robert Schumann
Sung by Susan Denaker

User Reviews

An excellent film about 19th century university life.

There is plenty of atmosphere in this film. It portrays the conflict that occurred in the universities of the day (1866) between the traditional and the newer blood that was required to bring the universities into the modern world. It is almost an allegory showing the old world (Oxford) as it battles against the influence of new ideas represented by the new world (the 'American Friends'). Michael Palin is excellent in the role of Mr. Ashby. Throughout the film he portrays in a wonderful manner the bewilderment of facing the challenge of coming to terms with new order represented by Mr. Sime (Alfred Molina) in the challenge for the presidency of the college. In the end he follows his heart (and probably his head as well) and leaves the old world to its devices. Well worth watching.