Northanger Abbey (2007) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Jon Jones

Writers:

Andrew Davies (screenplay) and
Jane Austen (novel)

Release Date:

20 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

When Catherine Morland is given the opportunity to stay with the childless Allen family in Bath, she...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Abbey | Georgian | England | 18th Century

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Geraldine James	...	Jane Austen (voice)
Felicity Jones	...	Catherine Morland
JJ Feild	...	Henry Tilney
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Mrs. Allen
Desmond Barrit	...	Mr. Allen
Carey Mulligan	...	Isabella Thorpe
Hugh O'Conor	...	James Morland
Catherine Walker	...	Eleanor Tilney
Liam Cunningham	...	General Tilney
Bernadette McKenna	...	Mrs. Thorpe
William Beck	...	John Thorpe
Mark Dymond	...	Captain Frederick Tilney
Julia Dearden	...	Mrs. Morland
Gerry O'Brien	...	Mr. Morland
Liam McMahon	...	Sedley

Runtime:

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

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardbraccan House, County Meath, Ireland

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

The white and blue muslin day dress Felicity Jones (Catherine Morland) wears reading in Bath is the same costume worn by 'Samantha Bond' (Maria Bertram) walking with Mr. Crawford in "Mansfield Park" (1983), and by Allie Byrne (Lady Kiely) in Sharpe's Battle (1995) (TV).

Quotes:

Henry Tilney: Now I must give you one smirk, then we can be rational again.

Movie Connections:

Version of Northanger Abbey (1986) (TV)

Soundtrack:

My Lord Byron's Maggot

Redeeming ITV

This adaptation of Northanger Abbey has gone a long way to redeeming ITV's Jane Austen Season after a severely poor start with Mansfield Park starring Billie Piper. Where as Mansfield Park was dull and lifeless, Northanger Abbey was lively and highly amusing. It was actually funny, and kept well to the spirit of the book. Newcomer Felicity Jones was brilliant as Catherine Morland, so too was JJ Field as Henry Tilney and Catherine Walker as Eleanor Tilney. In fact the whole cast did a great job of entertaining throughout. The script was brilliant, and you felt that Andrew Davies was really enjoying himself when adapting Austen's novel. When I see Davies' name attached to a period drama I feel safe that it will be done competently and in good taste, and Northanger Abbey was. My only criticism, which isn't so much a criticism more of my wanting it to continue, is that the ending was cut a little short. Of course this was due to time restraints. This is ITV's best period drama for a very long time. Not since Emma have they done one so good. This is certainly one I would recommend to both Austen enthusiasts and newcomers alike, it truly is accessible to all, and can be enjoyed by many!