From Time to Time (2009)

A haunting ghost story spanning two worlds, more than a century apart. When 13-year-old Tolly finds he can mysteriously travel between the two, he begins an adventure that unlocks family secrets laid buried for generations.

Director:

Julian Fellowes

Writers:

Lucy M. Boston (novel), Julian Fellowes (adaptation)

Stars:

Alex Etel, Timothy Spall, Maggie Smith

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alex Etel	...	Tolly
Timothy Spall	...	Boggis
Maggie Smith	...	Mrs Oldknow
Christopher Villiers	...	Officer
Pauline Collins	...	Mrs Tweedie
Eliza Bennett	...	Susan (as Eliza Hope Bennett)
Rachel Bell	...	Perkins
Dominic West	...	Caxton
Carice van Houten	...	Maria Oldknow
Douglas Booth	...	Sefton
Jenny McCracken	...	Mrs Gross
Christine Lohr	...	Mrs Robbins
Alan Charlesworth	...	Robert the Footman
Hugh Bonneville	...	Captain Oldknow
Kwayedza Kureya	...	Jacob

Storyline

In 1940s England, thirteen-year-old Tolly (Alex Etel) is sent to Green Knowe, the country estate of his grandmother, while his mother searches for any information concerning his missing-in-action father. Tolly soon finds that he can pass through time to witness the family stories Grandmother Oldknow (Dame Maggie Smith) tells him. Travelling back to 1805, Tolly becomes caught up in the family scandals, secrets, and mysteries that still echo in his own time.

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Plot Keywords:

runaway slave | country estate | ghost | england | 13 year old | 

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Taglines:

Unlock the Secrets of the Past.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and peril

Did You Know?

Trivia

Characters played by Allen Leech and Daisy Lewis are described as being a couple in this film; the two would play a couple again in Downton Abbey (2010) as Tom Branson and the pugnacious school teacher Sarah Bunting.

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Goofs

Modern concrete sleepers and rail fixings are seen during the scene at the railway station set in 1944.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Boggis: [late for picking the boy up from the railway station] I thought it came a quarter past. They said a quarter past.
Tolly: Well, they were wrong.

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Connections

Version of The Children of Green Knowe (1986)

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Soundtracks

Love Walked In
Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Performed by Virginia Verrill, John Hall, The Samuel Goldwyn Studio Orchestra
Courtesy of P.O.
Published by WB Music Corp (ASCAP) on behalf of George Gershwin Music and Ira Gershwin Music and Chapell & Co. (ASCAP)
Played on grammophone when the Christmas tree is being decorated

User Reviews

A Lovely Film From Another Time....

This is a film that would easily have been made 40 years ago - that it was made now is remarkable. I never read the book upon which it was based so I came to it on its own merits - and it stood more than just well. This is a film to be savored like a fine wine - it has rich nuances. There is so much that is good about it - from writing and acting to photography and set design.

It is an atmospheric film. Beautifully captured - the two time periods are both portrayed in evocative detail. The mood for 1941 feels iconic but real - like it would have been - in memory - quiet, all in muted wintry grays with the detail of the house and its rooms presented to the eye like paintings. By contrast, 1811 has a warm and vivid lushness like a dream. Fascinating choices.

Beautifully acted - of exceptional note is Maggie Smith. Hugh Bonneville gives a wonderful performance as Captain Oldknow. I found the marital relationship between the Captain and his foreign wife, as acted by Hugh Bonneville and Carice van Houten, as his wife Maria, intriguing. Made me wonder about how that relationship was portrayed in the book. Pauline Collins and Timothy Spall and Dominic West all excellent, as are the actors playing the children. Well done all round.

This film made me curious about the book. In fact, I will likely read the book now.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Através do Tempo

Filming Locations:

Medstead and Four Marks Station, Watercress Line, Hampshire, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$159,640

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios, Fragile Films, Hindsight Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1