Eroica (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Simon Cellan Jones

Writer:

Nick Dear (writer)

Release Date:

4 October 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Cast

Ian Hart	...	Ludwig van Beethoven
Jack Davenport	...	Prince Lobkowitz
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Count Dietrichstein
Anton Lesser	...	Sukowaty
Frank Finlay	...	Josef Haydn
Claire Skinner	...	Josephine Deym nee Brunsvik
Lucy Akhurst	...	Therese Brunsvik
Fenella Woolgar	...	Princess Lobkowitz
Leo Bill	...	Reis
Trevor Cooper	...	Otto Fisher
Victoria Shalet	...	Kirsten
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Aris	...	Paul Dorfmueller
Robert Glenister	...	Gerhardt
Joseph Morgan	...	Matthias

Runtime:

UK:129 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Chiswick House, Burlington Lane, Chiswick, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The white muslin dress with yellow overdress worn by the farmhouse servant is the same costume Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) wears during the picnic scene in Sense and Sensibility (1995), and Michelle Ryan wears during the scene in which Sir Thomas asks Maria if she wants to marry Mr. Rushworth in Mansfield Park (2007) (TV).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Beethoven's assistant was Ferdinand Ries, pronounced "Reese." They name was pronounced correctly in the film but incorrectly spelled "Reis" in the film credits. It was Ries himself who told the story of his incorrectly thinking the horn player came in early.

Finally, classical music gets the television it needs

For some puzzling reason, I never really "got" the Eroica, but thanks to this marvellous production I (and hopefully many others) finally understand not only why the symphony was so important but also why it's so good! The basic idea of the film is that Prince Lobkowitz's orchestra is giving the first performance of the symphony for the prince and princess, the composer, and a few guests. After a shortish buildup to introduce the characters, the orchestra begins - and carries on for most of the film. As the music plays, we watch the characters listening, and occasionally hear their opinions. There is outrage when a trumpet comes in at the "wrong" time; smiles at certain musical turns of phrase; frowns at how loud it is. This superb film marries a great performance of a great work with an intelligent effort to put the whole thing in the context of its time. It isn't a film for people who already know all about the Eroica, but for a viewer who doesn't know Haydn from Howard Shore it must surely be enlightening.