FairyTale: A True Story (1997)

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writers (WGA):

Albert Ash (story) &
Tom McLoughlin (story) ...

Release Date:

24 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

Believe.

Plot:

Two children in 1917 take a photograph, believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on a true story.

Plot Keywords:

Fairy | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Harry Houdini | Photograph | London England

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 1

8:00 AM

SYFY

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	Harry Houdini
Jason Salkey	...	James Collins
Peter O'Toole	...	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Lara Morgan	...	Jean Doyle
Adam Franks	...	Adrian Doyle
Guy Witcher	...	Denis Doyle
Joseph May	...	Houdini's Assistant
John Bradley	...	Portly Gentleman
Anna Chancellor	...	Peter Pan
Florence Hoath	...	Elsie Wright
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Polly Wright
Leonard Kavanagh	...	Stage Manager
Elizabeth Earl	...	Frances Griffiths
Paul McGann	...	Arthur Wright
Anton Lesser	...	Wounded Corporal

Also Known As:

Illumination (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief mild language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:G | Iceland:L | Canada:G (Ontario) | Australia:G | France:U | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/6 (video premiere) | Spain:7 | UK:U | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Cottingley, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Icon Entertainment International

Trivia:

The last film of 'Don Henderson'.

Quotes:

Edward Gardner: The photographs... they're genuine, then?
Harold Snelling: As the King's beard.

Movie Connections:

Version of "BBC2 Play of the Week: Fairies (#2.2)" (1978)

Soundtrack:

See the Conquering Hero Comes

Believe...Can You?

This venture was beautiful, whimsical, and inspired. This work felt as though it were real, although that is only partially true. I really don't care. The (movie) magick to be found here is awe inspiring and will have you watching your bird feeder much more closely.

Backed up by big names, beautiful photography, a solid screenplay, and natural dialog, this production is almost timeless. As it was a "period" piece (1917), it bears the virtue of not showing its wear. It was filmed as "old" when it was new.

The two girls' performances were nothing short of exemplary. They came off as being honest and true to their roles. That having been said, there was not a single poor performance to be found.

While there are some slow spots, as character development and the story are set up for the duration of the work, they are few and do not interrupt the flow of the production enough to break the wonderful spell.

It rates an 8.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.