Northanger Abbey

 

 

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as some of you already know, masterpiece theatre cut out about 30 minutes of the movie. some of the most endearing scenes are cut out of the dvd. this is a warning...do not buy this dvd if you are expecting the full version. if you love this version and have a multi-region dvd player, buy the british region 2 dvd from the UK site. it has the full version, not to mention a prettier cover :)

Without having seen the prior version of Northanger Abbey, I can't do justice to a comparison, though I can't imagine the older version could rival this one. I understand from other reviews that the old version took the Gothic themes in the novel to absurd lengths, a failing that does NOT apply to this version. The Gothic touches in the film are well done, and definitely add to the plot and character development of the story.

JJ Field as Henry Tilney is superb. He is manly and engaging, and makes a very attractive love interest, yet you can see how his avaricious and cold father has affected him. You can almost see the unhappy little boy he must have been when he says to Catherine Morland "I envy you your happy childhood."

Strong performances are given by every actor in the film, and the script is very true to the book. I am a bit of purist, so it is delightful to see. The only negative was that the film does tend to wrap up very quickly, but possibly that is because the characters are so engaging that you want to hear and see more. The fact that it was filmed in Ireland rather than on location in Bath does not at all detract from the film. On the contrary, the verdant, lush and rugged landscapes add to the Gothic themes central to novel. It is a real joy to watch again and again.

Gothic romances were all the rage in the late 1700s and early 1800s -- and Jane Austen deviated from her usual form for "Northanger Abbey," a mellow satire of the genre. And "Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey" manages to translate it well into a movie, with what seems to be gothic fantasies and scheming set in the middle of a sunlit English countryside.

Catherine Morland is an innocent young country girl with a love of gothic romances, and has lives an unremarkably life in a country parish. But then the wealthy Allens invite her to Bath during their vacation there, and of course she accepts -- and through balls and old acquaintances, she becomes friends with two pairs of siblings. One is the Thorpes, the uncouth dandy John and his manipulative sister Isabella, and the more mysterious Tilneys, the charming Henry and sweet Eleanor.

When the Tilneys decide to leave Bath, Catherine is invited with them, to the vast stone manorhouse of Northanger Abbey -- which is as gloomy, eerie and remote as her gothic-loving heart could wish for. What's more, she believes that there are dangerous secrets in Northanger Abbey, related to the suspicious death of the late Mrs. Tilney. But Catherine has some lessons to learn about reality and fantasy: that everyday world is not nearly as melodramatic and twisted as her novels, and that it has its own dangers and deceptions.

"Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey" does an admirable job of adapting Austen's novel, evenly balancing out its two sides -- on one hand it's a parody of all the lurid excesses of classic gothic novels, and on the other it's a subtle coming-of-age tale about a young girl who needs to figure out the difference between reality and fantasy. It has some eerie moments, but most of them seem to be fantasies of Catherine's -- lots of sword fights and dungeons, with her trailing around in a big white gown.

It's also beautifully filmed, with ivy-drenched cottages, vast stone castles, grassy yards surrounded by lush trees, and even the pale-lit streets of Bath. It's a stark contrast to the dark, gloomy world that Catherine imagines. And the writers translate Austen's stately prose very well, with some clever dialogue ("Now I must give you one smirk, then we can be rational again") and some beautifully romantic moments as well ("I told him that I felt myself bound to you, by honor, by affection, and by a love so strong that nothing he could do could deter me...").

It also has some very solid casting -- Felicity Jones projects wide-eyed innocence as Catherine, and she's just pretty enough to be striking without being too much so. JJ Feild is deliciously sexy and just a bit impish as Henry Tilney, and Catherine Walker has a brief but well-acted stint as Isabella, who may be the most naive, clumsy gold-digger in the world. There are also some excellent performances by Catherine Walker (as the gentle, conflicted Eleanor), Liam Cunningham, and William Beck.

"Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey" is a beautifully filmed, well-acted adaptation of Jane Austen's gently satirical classic, and preserves its spirit admirably. Just a disclaimer: this movie is not a reflection of reality!

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2.0 out of 5 stars Good news....and bad news....
I love it when great novels that I've read come to the big screen. Although it was beautifully done, it was a cut version. This DVD has several scenes cut out. Read more

Published 19 months ago by M. Vukovic

5.0 out of 5 stars Northanger Abbey
A very compelling and enjoyable story in typical Jane Austen fashion. This is my third favorite of her tales and the actors in the movie gave as much of themselves as the story... Read more

Published 19 months ago by P. Sharp

5.0 out of 5 stars Light and Entertaining!
Another wonderful adaptation of a Jane Austen classic. Light and quick-moving, its a real delight.

Published on Oct 3 2008 by Hannah

4.0 out of 5 stars Divertissant!
Ce film est divertissant pour tous les amateurs de Jane Austen. Bon casting et direction de qualité.

Published on April 2 2008 by I. Gagne

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
I loved this version of Northanger Abbey. Masterpiece Theatre has never let me down so far, they pay much attention to detail, and casting.

Published on Mar 30 2008 by L. Davis

1.0 out of 5 stars Northanger Abbey
I'm sorry to say that the DVD I got was a disappointment to me. I wasn't as happy with this DVD as I have been with other Jane Austin material.

Published on Jan 30 2008 by Madeline Gosselin

5.0 out of 5 stars So Good I Wanted More!
I saw the Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey on TV last evening & would recommend anyone to watch it! Read more

Published on Dec 17 2007 by YANNERS

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