Northanger Abbey (TV 2007)

A young woman's penchant for sensational Gothic novels leads to misunderstandings in the matters of the heart.

Director:

Jon Jones

Writers:

Andrew Davies (screenplay), Jane Austen (novel)

Stars:

Geraldine James, Felicity Jones, JJ Feild

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geraldine James	...	Jane Austen (voice)
Felicity Jones	...	Catherine Morland
JJ Feild	...	Henry Tilney (as J J Feild)
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Mrs. Allen
Desmond Barrit	...	Mr. Allen
Carey Mulligan	...	Isabella Thorpe
Hugh O'Conor	...	James Morland (as Hugh O'Connor)
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

Storyline

When Catherine Morland is given the opportunity to stay with the childless Allen family in Bath, she is hoping for an adventure of the type she has been reading in novels. Soon introduced to society, she meets Isabella Thorpe and her brother John, a good friend of her own brother, James. She also meets Henry Tilney, a handsome young man from a good family and his sister, Eleanor. Invited to visit the Tilney estate, Northanger Abbey, she has thoughts of romance but soon learns that status, class and money are all equally important when it comes to matters of the heart.

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Plot Keywords:

abbey | love | estate | georgian | gothic | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

ITV [uk] PBS [us]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

A klastrom titka

Filming Locations:

Ardbraccan House, County Meath, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television, ITV Productions, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 93 min 120 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The floppy mesh bonnet Catherine Walker (Eleanor Tilney) wears in the garden with Catherine is the same one worn by Rosamund Pike (Jane Bennet) in Meryton when she learns Mr. Bingley has returned to Netherfield in Pride & Prejudice, by an extra at church in Becoming Jane, and by Emily Blunt (Victoria) in The Young Victoria.

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Goofs

When Mr. Henry Tilney meets Mrs. Morland, he virtually drains his glass, which is then refilled ("I should like to pay my respects"), and drained again ("Perhaps Miss Morland").

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Quotes

Mrs. Allen: There! Did you ever see anything prettier, Mr Allen?
Mr. Allen: Other than yourself, do you mean, my dear?
Mrs. Allen: Oh, fine, Mr Allen! But Catherine...
Mr. Allen: Ah, she looks just as she should! Now... might we make our way, do you think? I entertain high hopes of our arriving at the rooms by midnight.
Mrs. Allen: How he teases us, Catherine! Midnight, indeed!

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Connections

Featured in The Story of the Costume Drama: A Call to Arms (2008)

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Soundtracks

"The Comical Fellow"
Traditional
Performed by The Pemberley Players
From Thompson's 'Twenty Four Country Dances' (1776)

User Reviews

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!