Middleton's Changeling (1998)

Based on the 17th Century play, this modernization finds a young man in love with a woman who is promised to another. Pleading with her man-servant to murder her pledged, he in turn ... See full summary »

Director:

Marcus Thompson

Writers:

Richard Coll, Thomas Middleton (play)

Stars:

Ian Dury, Amanda Ray-King, Colm O'Maonlai

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Dury	...	De Flores
Amanda Ray-King	...	Beatrice Joanna
Colm O'Maonlai	...	Alsemero
Richard Mayes	...	Vermandero
Guy Williams	...	Alonso
Billy Connolly	...	Alibius
Campbell Morrison	...	Lollio
Moya Brady	...	Isabella
Leo Wringer	...	Jasperino
Joe Dixon	...	Franciscus
Duncan Duff	...	Antonio
Julia Tarnoky	...	Diaphanta
James Maker	...	Tomazo
John Cooper Clarke	...	The Poet
Vivian Stanshall	...	Himself

Storyline

Based on the 17th Century play, this modernization finds a young man in love with a woman who is promised to another. Pleading with her man-servant to murder her pledged, he in turn blackmails her into a night with her. But she switches her maid in her bed, which sets off a bloodbath.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Website

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Also Known As:

The Changeling

Company Credits

Production Co:

High Times Pictures Production, United Independent Pictures Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of BBC Play of the Month: The Changeling (1974)

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Soundtracks

The Changeling Theme
by Gary Moore

User Reviews

if you really have to ...

... this film is available for next to nothing at most online stores and mercifully doesn't run much over an hour and a half.

As the title suggests, this is an adaptation of the (actually very good) 17th century play by Thomas Middleton. But - oh dear - Marcus Thompson's film is terrible. It tries to be Ken Russell, and fails. It tries to be Romeo and Juliet when it looks more like Tromeo and Juliet. It modernises the dialogue to the point of just being ridiculous ('Yo, sister!'), it trivialises the 'All's Well That Ends Well' plot of the maid taking the mistress's place in bed to the point of being ridiculous.

In the lead roles, Amanda Ray-King struggles as Beatrice, and well she might with those silly dream interludes and that appalling dialogue. Ian Dury (ye gods!) is the pervy man-servant who mirrors Angelo in 'Measure for Measure', while Billy Connolly (!) gets in there somewhere.

'The Changeling' was so fraught with problems during its creation it is amazing it ever got a release. It was meant to be using a Hendrix soundtrack, but the rights were pulled at the last minute. It was filmed in 1994, but didn't crawl out until 1998. It suffers from perhaps the poorest acting I've ever seen, and the weirdest collection of cameos (including John Cooper-Clarke and Viv Stanshall, who died shortly after completing his role).

As I said, the film is around to rent/buy should you really want to. But don't go expecting a classic, will you?