Miss Potter (2006)

The story of Beatrix Potter, the author of the beloved and best-selling children's book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", and her struggle for love, happiness and success.

Director:

Chris Noonan

Writer:

Richard Maltby Jr.

Stars:

Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Zellweger	...	Beatrix Potter
Ewan McGregor	...	Norman Warne
Emily Watson	...	Millie Warne
Barbara Flynn	...	Helen Potter
Bill Paterson	...	Rupert Potter
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Miss Wiggin
Lloyd Owen	...	William Heelis
Anton Lesser	...	Harold Warne
David Bamber	...	Fruing Warne
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Warne
Patricia Kerrigan	...	Fiona
Lucy Boynton	...	Young Beatrix
Oliver Jenkins	...	Young Bertram
Justin McDonald	...	Young Heelis
Judith Barker	...	Hilda

Storyline

In 1902, in London, the spinster Beatrix Potter lives with her bourgeois parents. Her snobbish mother, Helen Potter, had introduced several bachelors to Beatrix until she was twenty years old, but she had turned them all down. Beatrix Potter has been drawing animals and making up stories about them since she was a child, but her parents have never recognized her as an artist. One day, Miss Potter offers her stories to a print house, and a rookie publisher, Norman Warne, who is delighted with her tales, publishes her first children's book. This success leads Norman to publish two other books, and Miss Potter meanwhile becomes the best friend of his single sister Millie Warne. Soon Beatrix and Norman fall in love with each other, but Helen does not accept that her daughter would marry a "trader". However, Beatrix's father Rupert Potter proposes that his daughter spend the summer with his wife and him in their country house in Lake District, and if she is still interested in Norman after...

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Plot Keywords:

illustrator | book | letter | children | friend | 

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Taglines:

The life of Beatrix Potter is the most enchanting tale of all.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Details

Country:

UK USA Isle Of Man

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beatrix Potter - taiteilijaelämää

Filming Locations:

Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,205, 31 December 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,975,649, 24 June 2007

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Phoenix Pictures, UK Film Council, Grosvenor Park Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the scene when Miss Potter and Norman Warne say goodbye at the train station, the script says "exterior rain". Though Ewan McGregor suggested covering the clothes in glycerin to simulate the soaking wet look and to avoid having to actually be drenched, costume designer Anthony Powell insisted the actors be heavily sprayed down for the scene to look authentic. Ewan McGregor was made a very thin wet suit to wear under his costume so he could stay warm.

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Goofs

In the railway station scene filmed on the Bluebell Railway, the LNWR on the tank locomotive has been very visibly altered from LWSR. The N stuck over the W is a really bodged job for such a close up shot.

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Quotes

Beatrix Potter: Stories don't always end where their authors intended. But there is joy in following them, wherever they take us.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of Miss Potter (2006)

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Soundtracks

When You Taught Me How to Dance
Performed by Katie Melua
Written by Nigel Westlake, Mike Batt and Richard Maltby
Produced and Arranged by Mike Batt
Recording Engineer Steve Sale
Another Name Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

An Engaging, delightful surprise

Only the most curmudgeonly won't delight in this tender, inventive movie -- Miss Potter.

There aren't many movies that one can recommend to all of his or her friends, but Miss Potter may be the rare exception.

It has flair, style, and humanity.

Rene Zellwegger -- not everyone's favorite -- only occasionally simpers in her sensitive, forceful performance as writer Beatrix Potter.

Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson fit perfectly into their very likable characters.

The direction, screenplay, and art direction are all first-rate. And the sparing use of animation is wonderful. Peter Rabbit never looked so charming.