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:

British Navy | Dancing | Carriage | Class Differences | Love Triangle

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 white windowpane-check gown worn by Rosamund Stephen (Henrietta Musgrove) during the long walk to Winthrop is the same gown previously worn by Honeysuckle Weeks (Alice Cottisloe) in Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings (2000) (TV), in Sense and Sensibility (1995) by Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood), in "The Regency House Party" (2004) by Victoria Hopkins, by an extra at the London party where Annabella Milbanke meets Byron in Byron (2003) (TV), and in Mansfield Park (2007) (TV) by Billie Piper (Fanny Price).

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: Come, come Anne. We must not be late. You cannot have forgotten that we have an invitation from Lady Dalrymple.
Anne Elliot: I regret I am already engaged to spend the evening with an old school-friend.
Elizabeth Elliot: Not that sickly old widow in Westgate building?
Anne Elliot: Mrs Smith. Yes.
Sir Walter Elliot: Smith? Westgate building?
Mrs. Clay: Excuse me.
Sir Walter Elliot: And who pray is Mrs Smith? One of the 5,000 thousand Smiths everywhere to be met with. Upon my word, Miss Anne, you have the most extraordinary taste. To place such a person ahead of your own family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland. Mrs Smith.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Version of "Persuasion" (1960)

Soundtrack:

Symphony 25 in G Minor

Incandescently Charming Adaptation Will Set Your Heart Aglow

I was swept up by this brilliant adaptation from second one, when a young woman looked straight at me with melancholic eyes in an extreme close up. I was engaged, I was on her side and watched, utterly spellbound, as her story unravelled.

A clever script manages, with all the cuts and changes which are invariably part of all adaptations, to distill the spirit of Jane Austen's novel unerringly. Wonderful leads (Rupert Penry-Jones is a warm-hearted, dashing Wentworth and Sally Hawkins is a delightfully sweet tempered Anne Elliot) and an outstanding supporting cast breathe life and immediacy into the plot. Creative film making ideas give the production a fresh face and make for memorable, visually gorgeous film moments. The pacing is swift but never hurried. And last but not least, I loved the musical score!

Watching this sent me walking on cloud 9 for days. I have watched it several times since and am still discovering new marvels because there are many levels to explore in this gem. Don't miss it!