Persuasion (2007)

Royal Navy captain Wentworth was haughtily turned down eight years ago as suitor of pompous baronet Sir Walter Elliot's daughter Anne, despite true love. Now he visits their former seaside ... See full summary »

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel), Simon Burke (screenplay)

Stars:

Sally Hawkins, Alice Krige, Anthony Head

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sally Hawkins	...	Anne Elliot
Alice Krige	...	Lady Russell
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 Musgrove
Jennifer Higham	...	Louisa Musgrove
Rosamund Stephen	...	Henrietta Musgrove
Stella Gonet	...	Mrs Musgrove
Sam Hazeldine	...	Charles Musgrove
Louis Shergold	...	Little Charles
Nicholas Farrell	...	Mr Musgrove

Storyline

Royal Navy captain Wentworth was haughtily turned down eight years ago as suitor of pompous baronet Sir Walter Elliot's daughter Anne, despite true love. Now he visits their former seaside country estate, rented by his brother-in-law, admiral Croft, so the financially stressed baronet can afford a fashionable, cheaper residence in trendy Bath. First the former lovers meet again on the estate, where they feel vibes again, but neither dares admit them until it seems too late. Yet the truth becomes clear, both have moved, but meet again in Bath.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | cousin cousin relationship | cousin marriage | cousins incest | cousin cousin incest | 

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Taglines:

A new adaptation of Jane Austen's classic

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Persuasion

Filming Locations:

Assembly Rooms, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clerkenwell Films, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tan and brown print satin pelisse worn by Marion Bailey (Mrs. Croft) in Bath is the same costume worn by Anna Chancellor (Mrs. Peake) when she comes to the Worrall's house in Princess Caraboo (1994), by Sheila Gish (Mrs. Norris) to Maria's wedding in Mansfield Park (1999), by an extra during the French invasion in Goya's Ghosts (2006), and by an extra in the first church scene in Miss Austen Regrets (2008).

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Anne has been upset and flustered as she hurries through Kellynch Hall, marking an inventory of items throughout the mansion. She spies Lady Russell's carriage approaching and goes outside to meet her. They talk while returning inside]
Anne Elliot: My dear Russell!
Lady Russell: My dear Anne. You look quite done for. I came back as soon as I received your letter. I had no idea the position was so worse.
Anne Elliot: Unfortunately, a person who has contracted debts must pay them, even if he is a gentleman.
Lady Russell: Was there no ...
[...]

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Connections

Version of Persuasion (1971)

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Soundtracks

Symphony 25 in G Minor
(uncredited)
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(concert at Bath Assembly)

User Reviews

Exquisite

This lovely production has a brooding quality that mirrors the circumstances of the author. Unlike the rest of Austen's heroines, Anne Elliot, in a delicate anxiety-ridden performance by Sally Hawkins, isn't twice as clever as everyone else. She's been "persuaded" to make the wrong choices over and over. Her own character we see emerge in the course of the story, and her defiance of convention, class and family brings us a very "modern" heroine.

Unlike the more sour comments here, I thought the production values exquisite, the cinematography mirrors both the romance Ms. Austen is noted for, but also a melancholy that is at the heart of all of her work. Beautiful scenes, for example, shot on a sea wall with a monochromatic palette very near the color of cold steel, we feel acutely the dilemma of the heroine forced to be in situation after situation where she has to face her past in the presence of her beloved. The beautiful visuals are matched, if not surpassed, by a delicate and evocative musical score.

Anne's redemption comes slowly, perhaps too slowly for the more impatient in the audience. And Rupert Perry-Jones' Captain Rupert all but stops the camera with his impressive portrayal of Captain Wentworth. More empathic than Ms. Austen's usual love interests, Mr. Perry-Jones also stops the hearts of the viewers with his agony, visible to us, but not Anne Elliot.

It would be difficult to pick a favorite out of Masterpiece Theater's "The Complete Jane Austen," but for me, this one might be it. It's economy, lovely cinematography, efficient screenplay, and splendid cast (save Amanda Hale who stops the show every time she appears on screen in a distracting, mannered performance that a director should not have accepted) especially the gentle beauty of Alice Krige as Lady Russell. "Persuasion" is free of the more clever elements that teeter many of Ms. Austen's works, and this production makes the most of a love story whose heroine earns her redemption with courage that is not facile or glib.

To those who think "the book was better," of course. So glad you have your attitude. Pity you can't let go of it and enjoy this fine little production.