Persuasion (2007) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

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 heather Spencer jacket with crushed velvet collar Sally Hawkins wears as Anne Elliot is the same costume Lisa Braund wears in "The Regency House Party" (2004), and Polly Maberly (Kitty Bennet) wears in "Pride and Prejudice" (1995) as Kitty Bennet.

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:

Captain Wentworth: This is Henrietta and Louisa Musgrove, and this is Miss... Elliot.
Captain Harville: Miss Anne Elliot?
Anne Elliot: Yes.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Persuasion" (1971)

Soundtrack:

German Dance in D Major

Disappointing Overall But a Few Performances to Enjoy

I never watch these dramatisations and compare with the original book. I see little point as it will drive you mad. However as a TV drama it failed on a number of counts. The tension was sorely lacking and the hand held camera work was very heavy handed and ill used. The final scenes or the JA Marathon (it felt like it) was one of the silliest scenes I've ever seen in any classic series.

The revelation about William Elliot was very rushed, if you didn't know the book you'd have been bemused!. Until that point William Elliot's character (Tobias Menzies) actually comes across extremely well and shows some passion and humour. Wentworth on the other hand seemed so passive that I couldn't warm to him. I actually ended up wanting Anne to be with William Elliot.

Other than the excellent Menzies, who is a brilliant actor, the supporting cast were hit or miss. Anthony Head was good and I really enjoyed Julia Davis performance but some of the others were very OTT. The two leads were disappointing.

The early reviews suggested a classic but unfortunately it doesn't come near the quality of the 1995 version.