ITV Winter Drama preview includes glimpses of Austen Season films
Alert Janeite Zoe wrote to tell us that a preview of ITV’s “Winter Dramas” has been posted on YouTube, including glimpses of the new adaptations of Persuasion, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park.
Looks like the Mysterious Disheveled Byronic Gent is indeed Henry Crawford. And we liked Captain Tilney cruising Isabella Thorpe way more than we ought.
Discuss away.
December 17th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Felicity Jones looks wonderfully frivolous, Sally Hawkins surprisingly sad, and Billie Piper just a little too modern. Not that i’m jumping to conclusions…
December 17th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Oooh, lots of good stuff but (of course *winks*) also a few quibbles. I’m still not sure about Anne Elliot. That opening shot you see of her crying gives reason to believe she’s an excellent actress, but she still looks just too darn plain somehow. And I’m sorry, but I am absolutely convinced that Fanny Price would dress her hair properly - as a young gentlewoman should - every morning. She’d never leave it just tumbling about her shoulders. The voice, at least, is gentle and shrinking enough to be Fanny’s. Catherine looks perfect, but if that’s the scene I think it is, shouldn’t there be a touch more mortification in her self-defensive statement - or has that perhaps not quite yet set in? The men look awesomely brilliant! Frederick Wentworth, I think, best of all. Oh, that glowing, penetrating gaze! Bring them all on, I’d say - the sooner the better! I can’t remember: did we ever hear definite broadcast dates? If it’s ‘winter dramas’, then we’re talking about within the next couple months. Wheee!!
December 17th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Awesome! I’m so excited about these new adaptations.
Fanny Price isn’t really how I imagined her–for some reason I always figured that she would be rather frail-looking–but hopefully I can get past it. That’s the only real disappointment for me.
I agree that Frederick Wentworth looks amazing.
December 17th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
I think “winter” refers to the UK. Those of us in the other side of the Pond will have to wait. I think I’ll check out reviews of the programmes and, if they’re favorable, I just might break down and buy the Region 2 discs…which should come out before the programmes are shown here in the States.
There can never be too many Captain Wentworths. *drool*
December 17th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
OK, I watched the previews. And every time I see Sally Hawkins, I am less impressed with her. This girl is not just plain. She is positively homely. And Anne is not supposed to be homely.
December 17th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
The Fredericks (Tilney and Wentworth) look GREAT.
I’m still having trouble visualizing Billie Piper as Fanny Price, but her tiny, timid voice helped.
NA’s Henry and Catherine … wow, that was flat. Granted, there wasn’t much to judge from, but that’s not a good impression to get from a teaser trailer, either.
December 17th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Yay!! I was hoping we’d get a clip soon!
Carey Mulligan is way too elegant to be Isabella Thorpe! Way! Isabella is vulgar, and vulgarly pretty, not beautiful. Now, Carey looks perfect for Eleanor Tilney, but I guess it’s too late. Catherine M. looks perfect–pretty, but not beautiful, and young enough. Karenlee said: shouldn’t there be a touch more mortification in her self-defensive statement - or has that perhaps not quite yet set in? Now that you say it, I guess, eh? But I’m still hoping quite optimistically about Henry and Catherine.
I like Billy Piper’s Fanny Price from what I can see/hear. The hair isn’t a big deal for me–accuracy is good, but a few deviations are okay. The Byronic-haired Henry is sorta cute, not the hair, but what he says!
I don’t know why most people think Anne is so plain/homely. I find her the right combination of plain-and-prettiness, that could translate to prettiness under the right guy’s touch. And I am joining the general consensus about that right guy–*fans self*–yowie!
December 17th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Catherine Morland is many things, but “whiny teenager” is not among them.
Did everyone notice the Ravishment of Isabella bit?
December 17th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
I’m not loving Billie as Fanny very much now. She looks like she is capable of too much smiling! Henry Crawford is still not striking enough, though he does have nice eyes and I could deffinately see the Miss Bertrams melting under that gaze!
“Tales of deciet”…yes that sums up what Isabella Thorpe is doing to poor James! Captain Tilney is just what a rouge ought to be! Scenes of Catherine’s fancies and dreams seem to play a deffinate part in the movie which is rather nice, but she seems a little too bold in that scene with Henry. Her hair is lovely though!
I really do like the way Anne Elliot is portrayed here. I guess they are trying to show her inner struggles more, and there is a glimps of her smiling that is really quite pretty. Rupert as Capt W is going to do very well and be just what he should. I love that clip towards the end where Anne is walking on the cobb and the sea spay comes up - just beautiful!
Good or bad, I can’t wait for these adaptaions and the season of Austen!
December 17th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Mags, I’m not certain what you mean by “the Ravishment of Isabella” - are you referring to the girl tied by her hands on the bed? Eek.
The Tilney/Catherine interaction - yes, very flat and forced. But I’ve seen things like this before, and they take the worst little pieces and put them together for previews… I hope the end result will be much better.
I’m more impressed with the bits of Persuasion! I think Anne looks very well - just pale and sad. I agree, the last sea shot is lovely - meant to be Lyme, I suppose?
December 18th, 2006 at 1:04 am
Actually I think Sally Hawkins is really pretty- I’ve only seen her in one sketch in the first episode of Little Britain but even then I thought she was very pretty, very Anne -like. I definitely think that the producers wanted her to look a little homely at the beginning and improve during the duration of the film, much like Amanda Root in the previous Persuasion.
December 18th, 2006 at 3:34 am
The ‘Ravishment of Isabella’ - LOL! Who could miss it? Him circling the dance floor in a manner somewhat similar to another haughty gentleman we know, but in this case it’s more in the way of a predatory animal than a disdainful snob. Tied by her hands on the bed? Is that what that was? *Gah* - went by a bit too quickly in the trailer for me to be sure. All I know is it was a snippet that struck a rather jarring note in the whole. I imagine that’s just one of Catherine’s fantasies, but still…
December 18th, 2006 at 4:47 am
I’m so excited about these adaptations!!! But I’ll just have to watch the clip again, because it went so fast.
I’m most looking forward to Northanger Abbey, although Persuasion looks very good as well. Still having doubts about MP, though…
I was a bit confused about that ‘tied by her hands on the bed’-part as well. I couldn’t see she was tied on the bed, but it was clear that she wasn’t just laying there very comfortably.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:32 am
Re: Sally Hawkins as Anne in “Persuasion”, I heard that she only got the part because Catherine Zeta-Jones was too busy and ITV couldn’t afford J.Lo’s salary.
Oh yes, and ms. Hawkins can act both of them under the table.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - and I think that Sally Hawkins is totally gorgeous myself - but acting talent is much less so. I know which I’d sooner have in a TV drama!
-@^@-
December 18th, 2006 at 6:52 am
Obviously you are so proud of your opinion that you won’t tell us your name.
December 18th, 2006 at 10:33 am
Actually, “-@^@-” is a perfectly legitimate nom de net, and she left a legitimate e-mail address (which, granted, only the administrator can see). Let’s agree to disagree like ladies and gentlemen, shall we?
While the glimpses of Anne that we’ve seen do not agree with my personal vision of Anne Elliot, I have to admit that if you had shown me some photos of Amanda Root from the early scenes of Persuasion 1995 before I saw the film, I would have said the same thing. They have to do visually what Jane Austen did with words in making Anne appear pale and worn down (and Sally os that in the scenes that have been shown). I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt here and hope that Sally’s performance blows me away.
And that is Isabella in the bed with her bosom heaving, I believe.
If it is the scene I am thinking of, and I’m fairly sure it is, it is NOT one of Catherine’s fantasiesActually that was NOT the scene I was thinking of and it is a fantasy scene. But there is a “real-life” counterpart.December 18th, 2006 at 11:13 am
I certainly hope it’s one of Catherine’s fantasies! If it isn’t I think the book wasn’t interrpreted well. Frederik Tilney is a cad and a flirt, but I don’t think he’s violent!
December 18th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
i have the highest hopes for all of the adaptations; from all of the articles, etc. i’ve read, they look promising. however, i was really disappointed by this “preview.” granted, it did only span a total of about ten seconds, but i just thought they made it look really amateur. however, i am still determined to be optimistic and think that it is just a flaw of bad advertising
December 18th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
sally hawkins looks faaaaantastic! I’m excited enough about her performance alone.
I happen, also, to think that she is quite beautiful and quite a good actress.
I am worried though, that the preview looks badly shot or badly lit or something. Probably just a problem with the commercial itself.
December 18th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
I knew it was Joseph Beattie!!!!!!! Huzzah! I am quite excitedddd.
December 19th, 2006 at 2:56 am
I think Sally Hawkins looks great - I’ve seen her perform in other things and I think she’s going to make a fine Anne. And I think that she and young Rupert P-J could have delightful charisma. Very excited, I am!
December 19th, 2006 at 3:57 am
“I have to admit that if you had shown me some photos of Amanda Root from the early scenes of Persuasion 1995 before I saw the film, I would have said the same thing.”
You have a point there Mags. I must also say since writing my first post in this thread, I’ve been googling Sally Hawkins info & images. Seen a number of the latter which show that she can be quite visually striking. Even more important, this is apparantly one awesome actress. And if I had to make a choice for ‘perfection’ in either her looks or talent in playing Anne, there’s no need to think twice.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:31 am
I knew it was Joseph Beattie!!! Huzzahhhh
December 19th, 2006 at 11:33 am
I’ve been thinking about Fanny Price’s hair in MP3. Do you think this is their way of saying she’s not “out” yet? I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Mary Crawford and the Bertram girls wear their hair up. If they do and Fanny doesn’t it probably is their way of saying Fanny hasn’t had her coming out yet and one reason Edmund still thinks of her as a sister. Then she will probably put it up at her coming out party.
December 19th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Ah… you know, Sylvia, you may well have a point there. Part of ‘coming out’ was lengthening your frocks and putting up your hair. Fanny is still very much in limbo, isn’t she (especially within the confines of her own home at Mansfield Park)? The telling point will be how she presents herself at the Crawford’s dinner party she attends with Edmund, where Henry first formulates his ‘wicked designs’ on putting a little hole in her heart. No WAY would - SHOULD - she be wearing it hanging over her shoulders then!
December 19th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
@Sylvia: The proposal scene (which is what we have a glimpse of in the preview) takes place after the ball and so - following your theory which I think has a good point! - after her official “coming out”.
Anyway, I can imagine the hairdressers (if there are any) probably thought this hairstyle would make Fanny look more girlish compared with the other young women in Mansfield.
December 19th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
YUCK. All the actresses are ugly. Period. Who is the one with the HUGE teeth?!!
There’s definately something to be said about staying with just reading books.
December 20th, 2006 at 3:51 am
I believe the ‘huge teeth’ is probably Billie Piper (the blond), who’s playing Fanny in Mansfield Park. Tastes can certainly differ. I don’t think either Billie or Sallie Hawkins are great beauties, but I don’t think anyone with eyes in their head could call the girl playing Catherine Morland ‘ugly’.
December 20th, 2006 at 6:17 am
Hmmm …. wasn’t too impressed with the Northanger Abbey snippets and Billie Piper’s Fanny Price seemed very giggly! But Rupert Penry-Jones as Wentworth! WOW! Just perfect. And I think Sally Hawkins is a fabulous actress and will carry this off nicely.
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:56 am
Don’t know if anyone’s already pointed this out, but for the Penry-Jones/Wentworth fans there are two rather lovely pictures on the Clerkenwell films site. Just click on more images. Four total, so he’s in 50% of them. Looks seaworthy to me.
http://www.clerkenwellfilms.com/production7.html
December 23rd, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I do have a hard time believing that Penry-Jones as Wentworth would fall for Sally Hawkins’s Anne. It is not as if Wentworth took pity on her for gosh sakes. No discredit meant to Ms. Hawkins; it just does not suit the plot of the book.
December 24th, 2006 at 11:31 am
i know this will sound stupid but has everyone already seen this? And if so when did it air?
December 24th, 2006 at 11:54 am
Seen what? The films? No, they won’t be on for a couple of months in the UK, and not till November 2007 in the U.S. You can see the preview by clicking on the link–it’s been posted at YouTube.