Starring: Rupert Penry-Jones, Sally Hawkins, Alice Krige, Anthony Head, Julia Davis Directed By: Adrian Shergold Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC Label: BBC Warner Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: January 15, 2008 Running Time: 93 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 2007-11
Product Description: Jane Austen?s romantic masterpiece comes to DVD in a thrilling new production from the BBC and Masterpiece Theatre. Anne Elliot fell deeply in love with the handsome young naval officer Frederick Wentworth at the age of nineteen. But with neither fortune nor rank to recommend him Anne was persuaded to break off her engagement. Eight years later Anne has lived to regret her decision. She never stopped loving Wentworth and when he returns from sea with a fortune and rank she can only watch as every eligible young woman in the district falls at his feet.Running Time: 93 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/BBC UPC: 883929005475 Manufacturer No: 1000036150
Amazon.com: Jane Austen fans will delight in the sumptuous production design and first-rate acting in the 2007 Masterpiece Theatre version of Persuasion. Sally Hawkins is controlled and moving as Anne Elliot, the quietly heartbroken but sensible heroine who was "persuaded" (read: forced) to turn away her true love but still carries an unseen torch for him. Hawkins's performance is genteel yet steely, and the quiet strength of the entire production. Hawkins looks alternately quietly lovely and sadly pinched--as one might expect the long frustrated Anne to look.
Other highlights include a post-Buffy Anthony Head, as Anne's clueless, blustery father, Sir Walter. Head gets to turn on his deft comic talent here in ways most American audiences have not yet seen him; he's clearly enjoying himself immensely, blustering about "my shrubberies" and other trivial affairs. The cinematography is lush (several breathtaking tracking shots are used, especially early on), as are the period costumes. The production was filmed exclusively on location, and the reality of the sets enforces the story.
Some fans may prefer the 1995 Amanda Root version, for the casting of Ciaran Hinds as Capt. Wentworth, but this later effort is a worthy entry in the Austen film oeuvre--and Rupert Penry-Jones is a dreamboat in his own right. As the wistful Anne says, on behalf of all women, "We do not forget you, so soon as you forget us." --A.T. Hurley
Enjoyable..., This production may not be accurate and in keeping with the novel but I liked it.
Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins have wonderful chemistry together and she as Anne Eliott give s a really moving performance as the heart-broken and long suffering Anne who was 'persuaded', forced,) by her controlling family and dear friend to turn away the man she loved a long time ago, beause he was not suitable for a baron's daughter. And meeting him again after all these years, both their circumstances have changed. She knows her feelings for him hasn't changed at all and knows agony once more knowing he is ready to settle down and has chosen his bride. He is cold towards her and despite his anger at her when she broke up with him, he can't help but worry over her now.
Rupert Penry-Jones is gorgeous as the cold and aloof Wentworth. Loved the scene when he meets Lady Russell again for the first time since she separated him and Anne and is so chilling but unfailingly polite. And the little things he does against his will, shows he still as some feeling for Anne.
I didn't like the end scenes with Anne running the streets of Bath, looking for Wenthworth. Whats with that? In those days well brought up ypung ladies wouldn't be caught dead behaving like that. But despite that and few other descrepencies, quite enjoyed this version.
Favorite Moments A couple more hilarious moments that I don't notice other reviewers mentioning:
-- Wentworth and Harville ignoring the drenching swells that are about the wash them off the Cobb. -- Charles Musgrove crossing the log bridge and strolling around the dining room leaving his shotgun unbroken and in firing position. I was a little disappointed that he didn't take out any of the characters that I could have done without seeing for the following sixty minutes.
The best Austen Romance ever! This was a wonderful surprise! I loved it. it turned out to be, in my opinion, Jane Austen's most romantic novel to date. Truly well acted, well directed and pure Austen!!!! WONDERFUL! You'll watch it over and over again. BRAVO!
Keeps getting better! I had read the book many years ago and when I heard that there was to be a new Jane Austen series, I re-read it and the others and Persuasion took a very definite first place. As to this TV version, first time round I loved it and I have found, on repeat viewing only very recently, that it was even better than I remembered. I thoroughly enjoyed the settings, the music and particularly, the two lead performances which I think were thoroughly convincing. Of the supporting roles, I thought Anthony Head was magnificently arch and enjoyably shallow and horrible as Sir Walter, Sam Hazeldine bumbling, delightful and sweet (especially in his relations with Anne which are so kind and redolent, on his part, of what might have been) and I must be the only person who thought that Mary Musgrove was just exactly as she should have been! Peter White is a great favourite of mine so I loved his bluff yet gentle Admiral. The pacing was odd, I admit, presumably because of the time constraints and like everyone else, I would have liked all of the letter-not just because the written version is so beautiful but because I thought Rupert Penry-Jones' voice-over was absolutely perfect. There's a little subtle break in his voice half way through that gets me every time. The scene in the shop was also wonderful-he, in particular, showed so much by doing so little. There was a real feeling of strong feelings ruthlessly repressed because he was so afraid of being hurt again. I think Anne was beautifully played by Sally Hawkins and she looked just right. At the start she was obviously depressed but determined to live the best life she could. Then, at the end, she realised she had another chance to live the life she really wanted and gathered every ounce of strength of character she had to grab it with both hands. That was the symbolism of the running for me. As to RPJ looking too young and unweathered for a sea captain, in reality, that's probably true but the whole point about Austen's description of him is that he had lost none of what she called his (this may be in the wrong order!) "open, glowing, manly" look in the eight years he and Anne had been apart. And even her vain, looks-obsessed father who castigated all sailors because they supposedly looked rough, had to admit eventually that Captain Wentworth was an exception. RPJ had that in spades, as well as the depth of feeling for a role where so much is under the surface. I thought he was wonderful in it and that he and Sally Hawkins created something touching to the contemporary mind, yet absolutely in keeping with the original, of a relationship that nearly didn't make it. As to "the kiss", it wasn't the chocolate-box romanticism that many accuse modern visual producions of overlaying on Austen-it was hesitant, full of both fear and longing, human, messy and completely believable. The sunlit ending at Kellynch, I think, was symbolic of pent-up longing fulfilled in every way, which is really the point of the entire book, and I loved it. I've even loved writing this about it!
Romantic Love this version as well as the 1995. Watch this film with your heart it makes it worth while.
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