FairyTale: A True Story (1997)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

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

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:

Harry Houdini: Anything can be faked by anyone.

Movie Connections:

Version of Photographing Fairies (1997)

Soundtrack:

See the Conquering Hero Comes

For true believers in the power of magic and innocence

Maybe on account of the fact that being 2/3 through my alotted span and with a terrible awareness of what this world is really like and having also managed to really never grow up, I found this film to be the most touching and magical experience of my life. I am more than happy to tell you that the last ten minutes of the film brought tears to my eyes as I witnessed what every young child wants to see....and CAN if only they can put aside life's pitiful and distracting reality.

Released the same time as the excellent PHOTOGRAPHING FAIRIES, both films dwell on the factual events of 1917 when childhood friends Elsie Wright and Florence Griffiths took what they professed to be real photographs of fairies in their immediate neighborhood. The incredible photographs were declared non-hoaxes and even incurred the attention of such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini who visited the girls and examined the phenomenon. Peter O'Toole especially, as Conan Doyle is just superb in his characterisation (why am I NOT surprised?)

Absolutely sumptuous cinematography, a most literate of scripts and some grade A acting, especially from the two girls. The film had a larger budget than PHOTOGRAPHING FAIRIES and it shows. The highlight of course and that which the younger viewers must wait patiently for, is the quite staggering appearance of the fairies at the end. As brilliant a series of special effects as I have ever seen. Several people don't appear to have seen Mel Gibson - you weren't looking to closely!!

The truth or otherwise about the photographs has since been made public although few appear to know. I have no comment to add. If you WANT to know more, contact me.