Persuasion (2007) (TV)

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel)
Simon Burke (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A new adaptation of Jane Austen's classic

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Reflection | Unrequited Love | Period Drama | Illness | Georgian

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sally Hawkins	...	Anne Elliot
Alice Krige	...	Lady Russell
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Captain Wentworth
Anthony Head	...	Sir Walter Elliot
Julia Davis	...	Elizabeth Elliot
Michael Fenton Stevens	...	Mr. Shepherd (as Michael Fenton-Stevens)
Mary Stockley	...	Mrs. Clay
Peter Wight	...	Admiral Croft
Marion Bailey	...	Mrs. Croft
Amanda Hale	...	Mary Elliot
Jennifer Higham	...	Louisa Musgrove
Rosamund Stephen	...	Henrietta Musgrove
Stella Gonet	...	Mrs. Musgrove
Sam Hazeldine	...	Charles Musgrove
Louis Shergold	...	Little Charles

Also Known As:

Persuasion: A Jane Austen Classic (Australia)

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials) | 93 min (excluding commercials)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:G | Finland:K-3 | New Zealand:G

Filming Locations:

Assembly Rooms, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Clerkenwell Films

Trivia:

The sheer, dotted muslin gown worn by Jennifer Higham (Louisa Musgrove) at Uppercross is the same gown previously worn by Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) in Sense and Sensibility (1995) during the lawn bowling scene at Barton Park, and by Amelia Warner (Fanny Price, age 17) in Mansfield Park (1999). The same costume was later worn by Charity Wakefield (Marianne Dashwood) in "Sense & Sensibility" (2008) at Norland Park.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Anne is running through the streets of Bath, right before she bumps into Charles and Captain Wentworth, a hydro pole and a radio tower can be seen in the background.

Quotes:

Sir Walter Elliot: I must say, though, the worst of Bath is the number of plain women. I frequently observe that one pretty face would be followed by five and thirty frights.

Movie Connections:

Version of Persuasion (1995)

Soundtrack:

Symphony 25 in G Minor

Hit and Miss Production

I feel I'm repeating a lot of what's already been said but I also hated the camera work, the excessive time on the journal and close ups of Anne's face which was laboured to death. The run at the end of the production made my husband laugh for ages so maybe they should have called it a comedy. When she had to run back for the second lap even I started to shake with laughter.

I also had a big problem with Rupert Penry Jones. Now I knew he was there mainly because he looked pretty (infact the producer virtually said he was picked because he turned heads!) but he lacked any screen presence and didn't convince me in the slightest that he loved Anne. He was very wooden. Ciaran Hinds is in a different league to him.

The 1995 version still stands up extremely well against this version. I watched it recently and there really is no comparison. Amanda Root was also my preferred Anne but a round of applause to Sally for enduring the director's madcap ideas.

However I would say that Tobias Menzies made a much better job of William Elliot than Sam West. He had the charisma (for want of a better word) that Ruport Penry Jones lacked in this production. I hope to see more of him in other productions. Anthony Head was also a very entertaining Sir Walter but some of the other supporting cast struggled.

If anyone asks me which version to purchase I'd not hesitate in saying the 1995 version.