Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Brideshead Revisited (2008)
Brideshead Revisited
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Brideshead Revisited (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 21 | slideshow) Videos (see all 21)
Brideshead Revisited (2008) -- Brideshead Revisited Trailer
Brideshead Revisited (2008) -- Clip: Emma
Brideshead Revisited (2008) -- Behind the scenes: Emma
Brideshead Revisited (2008) -- TV Spot Trailer
Brideshead Revisited (2008) -- Based on Evelyn Waugh's 1945 classic British novel, Brideshead Revisited is a poignant story of forbidden love and the loss of innocence set in England prior to the Second World War.

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   3,211 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Julian Jarrold
Writers:
Andrew Davies (written by) and
Jeremy Brock (written by) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Brideshead Revisited on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 July 2008 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Love is not ours to control more
Plot:
Based on Evelyn Waugh's 1945 classic British novel, Brideshead Revisited is a poignant story of forbidden love and the loss of innocence set in England prior to the Second World War. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
10 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(45 articles)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (review)
 (From FlickFilosopher. 14 July 2009, 9:57 AM, PDT)

First Teaser for Cemetery Junction
 (From Twitch. 9 July 2009, 5:36 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Differing Religious Convictions Driving People Apart more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Matthew Goode ... Charles Ryder
Thomas Morrison ... Hooper
David Barrass ... Ship's Barber
Anna Madeley ... Celia Ryder
Sarah Crowden ... Lady Guest
Stephen Carlile ... English Lord
Peter Barnes ... American Professor
Hayley Atwell ... Julia Flyte

Patrick Malahide ... Edward Ryder
Richard Teverson ... Cousin Jasper
Joseph Beattie ... Anthony Blanche
Ben Whishaw ... Sebastian Flyte
Roger Walker ... Lunt
Mark Field ... Boy Markaster
Mark Edel-Hunt ... Oxford Student
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
Runtime:
USA:133 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | DTS
Company:
2 Entertain more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
David Yates was set to direct this film, but had to step aside from the director's chair to direct Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) instead. While Yates was attached, Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly and Jude Law were cast in the roles of Charles, Julia and Sebastian respectively. It was also announced that Chatsworth House in Derbyshire would be used as Brideshead. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: In Lord Marchmain's deathbed scene, Fr. Mackay imparts absolution while Charles Ryder and members of the family are in attendance. Absolution is never imparted in public in this way. The others would have been asked to step out. Moreover, the Latin form of the absolution given, although it is the correct traditional one, is badly mispronounced and contains several errors in the details of the Latin text. more
Quotes:
[First Lines]
Charles Ryder: [Internal monologue while walking out of Brideshead Castle] If you asked me now who I am, the only answer I could give with any certainty would be my name: Charles Ryder. For the rest: my loves, my hates, down even to my deepest desires, I can no longer say whether these emotions are my own, or stolen from those I once so desperately wished to be. On second thoughts, one emotion remains my own. Alone among the borrowed and the second-hand, as pure as that faith from which I am still in flight: Guilt.
more
Movie Connections:
Version of "Brideshead Revisited" (1981) more
Soundtrack:
Rumba more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "Brideshead Revisited" based on a novel?
Was the original novel a sequel?
more
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful:-
Differing Religious Convictions Driving People Apart, 4 October 2008
6/10
Author: jzappa from United States

No love story can be altogether gratifying in which the central choices are decided by the mother of the woman in love, even less, when she is the mother of both lovers, and has faith that she is protecting their everlasting spirits. That is what seems to be the predicament in Evelyn Waugh's novel, now adapted into a stagnant film in which one is not invited to feel or react due to its own lack of feeling or solidly portrayed consequence.

This film version focuses on forbidden love and the death of purity, set before WWII. Matthew Goode, who was excellent as the villain in The Lookout, becomes spellbound with a noble family, first because of his friendship with a charming, provocative, apparently homosexual contemporary, and then his sister. The fluctuation of Goode's obsessions suggest the decay of a self-indulgent upper crust in England flanked by the two World Wars, related in the course of his recurring stays at the Brideshead estate. What's more fundamental to Waugh's story is the harsh Catholicism of the family, as imposed by their matriarch, played by Emma Thompson, the high point of the film by far. Their religious beliefs are confronted by the son's homosexuality, the daughter's adulterous liaison with Goode, and Goode's atheism.

There are two curious fathers in the film. Michael Gambon is one, still legitimately married sure enough, but is ostracized, living in a Venetian palazzo with his mistress, Greta Scacchi in an unexpected comeback. Goode's father is a definite oddball who lives enclosed in a London house and seemingly favors playing chess with himself to talking to his son.

The main character is a penniless, virtually parentless youth drifting through an alien social system. Goode plays him featurelessly really, a nondescript motor for the other characters. Ben Whishaw steals all of his scenes as the gay son. The daughter could definitely have been portrayed more warily. The actress, Hayley Atwell makes the most of her I suppose, but why would she marry the revolting and unbearable suitor instead of Goode?

I am sure that the reason this film is not very effective at all is because so much background and source material is condensed and maybe sacrificed into such a shorter running time. But why are so many other adaptations effective in spite of this factor?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Brideshead Revisited (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
offensive to catholics - spoiler alert! Demelz
Could have been good, but wasn't. hzomayah
Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys stars in... hannahp1
Any recommendations for similar films TyrellUtani
did charles have feelings for sebastian nab_20
Castle Howard italia456
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Remains of the Day Barry Lyndon Northanger Abbey The Legend of Bagger Vance Sense and Sensibility
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.