I long for a ball!
Ireland On-Line reports that a ballroom scene was filmed for BECOMING JANE at Charleville Castle in County Offaly.
ETA: Photos!
A lavish ball from the late 18th century was recreated in an Irish castle tonight for a multi-million euro movie telling the tale of author Jane Austen’s own life.
The ornate surroundings of Charleville Forest Castle in the Irish midlands were taken over as a scene from the movie detailing the real-life love of a 19-year-old Austen for a roguish Irishman, Tom Lefroy, was shot.
Arts Minister John O’Donoghue took a step back in time as he visited the Co Offaly set of Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway and James McEvoy, where 100 extras in period costume dress gathered to film the ballroom scene
[. . .]
Written by Kevin Hood and Sarah Williams, the film was inspired by the true events of the little known romance of the young Austen and Irishman Lefroy.
*coughMADEUPSTORYcough*
(Little known? In what universe?)
And since they’re so near Tullamore, we hope they bring us back a wee giftie. We keep a bottle around AustenBlog World Headquarters purely for medicinal purposes, of course.
We could have daaaaaanced all niiiiiight….we could have daaaaaanced all niiiiight…la la laaaaa, la la laaaaa, la laaaaaaa….
April 11th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Doesn’t everyone love a ball? The dance scenes from Pride and Prejudice were some of the highlights of both adaptations! I am amused the way they billet Anne H, from Brokeback Mt., and James McAvoy from Narnia. It sounds like they have come from two very weird and polar opposite places to make this film in Ireland. Does anyone know when it will be released?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
Well, McAvoy has actually played an Irishman before and was darn good at it (see: Inside I’m Dancing) so I’m not terribly worried about his accent. Just hope Anne’s is up to par.
As for release date? I’m going to take a stab and say Christmas or eariler next year.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
They might release it late this year if they think it can snag an Oscar nom. It could also be a New York and L.A. release in December to qualify it for Oscar consideration and then wider release in early 2007.
April 12th, 2006 at 12:29 am
“Such was Catherine Morland at ten. At fiftteen, appearances were mending; she began to curl her hair and long for balls…”
April 12th, 2006 at 7:42 am
There are some pictures up of the ballroom scene, and I have no idea what Ireland’s Minister is doing there, he kind of looks like Christopher Plummer and I have a question.
Someone told me that James Cromwell has also joined the cast, is it true???? Plz let me know because I love him and this movie would be eve more appealing now that he also is in it.
http://photo.wenn.com/index.php?ref=becoming%20jane%20120406&session_id=98d09eb928fd04b84cabac50edf8aba7
April 12th, 2006 at 8:36 am
I haven’t heard anything about James Cromwell–I like him, too.
I suspect that the Irish minister is there to promote making films in Ireland, which the article I linked above is about as well. I don’t think he’ll be in the movie.
Anne looks really pretty there, doesn’t she? I like her hair much more than in previous photos. I don’t know about that gown for 1795, though. The extras look better. Julie Walters looks fab! Thanks for the link!
April 12th, 2006 at 10:47 am
I agree that she does look very pretty and I like her hair better here. The gown suits her. I must say that, in my humble opinion, they are more on target with the costumes than P&P3 was. From the very few pictures we’ve seen they look very nice. Anne’s gown may not be quite 1795 but I don’t think it is too far off to be unbelievable. Not as bad as Caroline Bingley’s gown at the Netherfeld Ball in P&P3. I think that fashion statement was about 15 years ahead of the times! I like how they have the older people in the older fashions though. Gives it a nice touch. I think the movie, although it will definitely be made up, will turn out to be a fun story to watch. I’m looking forward to it!
April 12th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Naturally I have something to say about the gown. It is a tad bit early to see such a cut, but what bothers me more is the type of fabric. Seems a bit expensive looking for a clergyman’s daughter.
April 13th, 2006 at 6:42 am
Hello all, i’m one of the extras in the film and i can confirm that james cromwell is in the movie, playing mr.austen… hes really really tall! Also maggie smith is in it, playing lady gresham…
April 13th, 2006 at 8:02 am
YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
But wait hold on, I thought Ian Richardson was playing Mr Austen??!?!?!?
Can u give us the info on who else is in the cast and who’s playing who?
Did U get a chance to meet anyone???
P.s Sorry I am bombarding U with all these questions.
April 13th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Thanks, Wilder!
April 13th, 2006 at 8:39 am
[...] A commenter claiming to be an extra from the BECOMING JANE (and we have no reason to disbelieve the claim) posted in comments that James Cromwell is playing Mr. Austen and that Maggie Smith is playing Lady Gresham. [...]
April 13th, 2006 at 9:46 am
*racks brains*
Who exactly is/was Lady Gresham..?
April 13th, 2006 at 10:37 am
I stumbled across another photograph here:
http://www.unison.ie/entertainment/film/stories.php3?ca=60&si=1596831
The article is the same as the one linked to above, so I decided not to burden you with an email, Mags
April 13th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
No problem lol… lets see… Julian Walters is playing mrs.austen… you know the rest… theres another actor- very tall aswell playing a suitor for jane… will try and find out his name. I was talking to james cromwell and julian. they’re really nice people. james mcevoy is funny, was playing cops and robbers with anne lol.
magie smith saw me putting back on my own shoes which were these old leather clogs… i said hi but she didnt seem too impressed lol
April 13th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
I’d like to know who Lady Gresham is too! I don’t believe I ever came across her name in any of Jane’s letters, etc. Can anyone enlighten us?
April 13th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
No Gresham in the JA Letters edition nor in the JA Family Record (I’ve consulted the indexes of both books).
Wilder, if you are still reading us, please, then tell us which part is Ian Richardson playing, since he is the one we have seen in the photos and based on them, he looks like the Rev. George Austen, Jane Austen’s father, to us.
April 14th, 2006 at 7:42 am
Thanks Wilder, did you get a chance to hear Anne’s accent though?
April 15th, 2006 at 9:37 am
Lady Gresham holds a ball at which jane and Lefroy meet….I don’t know if she has any historical acuracy or weather she is just a fictional facilitator…..
April 17th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
Hi !!! I was an extra in the ball scene and yeah I heared Annes accent and it was spot on !! She was very determand and even kept the accent going between takes !!! She seemed lovely and was singing abba ??? (by the way she is a fantastic singer) And her dress ????? Well personaliay I think her dress was like that so she somehow would stand out from the crowd as she was the only person wearing that type of dress and so that she didnt have to wear a corset all day !!!!(I still have the marks on my side from wearing mine !!!)
April 21st, 2006 at 3:45 pm
hi all,
Just to confirm, all true about Charlevillle Castle Gresham Ball, the cast were very friendly, AH was stunning, Cromwell and Walters most approachable of all the cast, AH still young so more taken by Divaness. JC is 6′ 6”, very tall, funny and warm man, he and JW got on like a house on fire. The castle lit by about ten chandaliers looked amazing. Who cares if the shoots went from 9am till midnight, had a ball. half of Tullamore thespians turned out. I counted about 10 local actors and musical society members lapping up the occasion, will my face go on to the silver screen, I guess not, but I do have a hunch that my right arm is in one shot to the right of JC and JW. Looking forward ot the movie.
Oscar