If you are an Austen fan and you crave more
“Austen” then I am here to recommend a couple other movies you might enjoy.
While nothing can replace our favorites like Pride and Prejudice or Sense and
Sensibility I have found a couple movies in the past which have not
disappointed. You have to be a certain type of individual to like these kinds
of movies: the English made or dramatic movies which move a little slower and
add a lot of extra detail. This is what I love and crave and if you are of the
same mind then I want to recommend what I consider a beautifully made movie
that any Austen fan would love.
NORTH AND SOUTH
That movie is called North and South,
written by Elizabeth Gaskell in 1855. It was a made for television movie in
2004 by the BBC. I had not seen this movie until a couple of years ago when I
started watching other BBC shows and ran across this one. It was considered an
industrial novel when it was written; it was written about relations between
employers and workers of that time period.
This movie deals with multiple relationship
scenarios from the employer, played extremely well by Richard Armitage as John
Thorton, his devoted and sometimes overbearing mother, and individual workers
and their plights in life. But the greatest relationship is between John
Thorton and Margaret Hale, played by Daniela Denby-Ashe, who was one of 19th
century literature’s original heroines.
This movie is set in Victorian England’s
industrial north which is a far cry from where Margaret came from in the south.
She was used to privilege as a middle class southerner but was forced to move
to the north because her father gave up his position in the church because he
disagreed with some new theology of the church.
Margaret is immediately offended by Milton,
the town they had chosen to live in. It is dirty, noisy, and in her opinion it
lacks civilization. She blames moving to this place as the reason why her
mother’s health is on the decline. She is particularly offended with the
handsome and charismatic John Thorton who at their very first meeting was
beating one of his workers- which she stepped in and tried to stop. He
epitomizes everything she hates about Milton .
The cotton mills are horrific reminders of
the suffering that was done in that day and age by those who were not blessed
with positions and privilege. The workers inhaled the cotton that was flowing
about the mill like snow and most were dead at a very early age. There are very
touching scenes between Margaret and a mill worker close to her own age that
she befriended. Just to watch scenes from what must have gone on at that time
makes a great impression.
Throughout the entire movie you can feel
the repressed physical attraction these two have for each other and as in Pride
and Prejudice there is an offer of marriage that is not well received by
Margaret from Mr. Thorton. This elevates the tension between them as does the
labor strike and the ties she has made with some of the local cotton mill
workers. She is trying to help the poverty stricken mill workers and becomes
quite close to them. The mill workers put into effect a strike which places her
in the center of the fight between management and labor. Which as you can
imagine puts even more strain on her relationship to Mr. Thornton and his
overbearing mother who senses his affection for Margaret and would like to keep
him all to herself. She believes Margaret has shown multiple instances of
impropriety and is not shy about sharing these feelings with her son or with
Margaret on many occasions.
I will not even attempt to let you in on
the end of this wonderful tale of class differences, circumstances, and
prejudice that Margaret and Mr. Thornton have to overcome. If you watch this
movie and you are anything like me you will have to rewind and watch the end of
this movie several times. They never make the best parts long enough. It is
much like every English movie in that it takes its time and fills you with all
the details and background of the times and characters in this industrial time
in England .
These movies are too slow for some but I savor each moment in this wonderful
drama. I love the costumes, the background, the sounds, and all the details
that come from that time in England ’s
history. This is a must see for Austen fans in my opinion.
KATE AND LEOPOLD
Another movie from 2001 that I am very fond
of which is set in the past and in modern times is Kate and Leopold with Hugh
Jackman and Meg Ryan. Kate (Meg) lives in an apartment in New York in the 21st Century with
her brother Charlie who is an actor. Meg’s ex-boyfriend, Stuart, who lives
above her apartment and who is a bit eccentric, has discovered there is a spot
near the Brooklyn Bridge where there is a gap in time. If you jump off the
Brooklyn Bridge at exactly the right time you can go back to the 19th
Century. When he arrives in the 19th century he starts taking
pictures with his tiny camera (compared to the cameras of the 19th
century) and Leopold (Hugh), a man who lives in the 1870’s sees him and follows
him. He ends up following Stuart back through the gap in time to the present.
Leopold is a very proper English duke who
is accustomed to being treated as such. Kate’s brother meets him and thinks
that he is a fellow actor and is “way deep into his character” which he greatly
admires. At the beginning of the movie it implies that Leopold is the inventor
of the elevator so when they get back to modern times all the elevators are
broken. Stuart subsequently gets hurt in a fallen elevator and Leopold is left
alone in Stuart’s apartment. Kate thinks he is crazy but Charlie helps him out
because he thinks he is just trying not to come out of the character he is
auditioning for.
Leopold is a very well educated man and an
inventor and tries to learn about and even improve the modern conveniences he
comes across. No matter what comes at him he stays a gentleman and eventually
impresses Kate even though she still thinks he is crazy. There is a wonderful
scene in the movie where Kate’s purse gets snatched and Leopold borrows the
horse from the horse and carriage guy in the park. He makes a dynamic rescue
and Kate is unmistakably smitten with his valor. They fall for each other but
then have a falling out about the same time Stuart comes home from the hospital
and tells Leopold it is time to go back to his time or the portal will be
closed. After he is gone then Kate notices the elevators working and realizes
that it all may be true and that she has lost her love forever.
Charlie and Stuart are sitting in the
apartment looking at the pictures he took while in the 19th century
and realize that there is something there that should not be. They have to find
Kate fast before the portal closes and let her know. I will not tell you
anymore so as not to spoil it unless you have already guessed. Oh, and I forgot
to mention that Leopold is a broke English Duke and that he must marry a rich
American by midnight the night he goes back or his Uncle will disown him. So
that adds a little more excitement to the end of this flick.
It is not exactly Austen material but Hugh
Jackman pulls off the 19th century gentlemen so very well that we
might as well be there. He is handsome, charming, and oh so 1870’s that at
times you will feel as if you are at least a little closer to an Austen movie!
I love it.
I hope that you Austen fans will give North
and South and Kate and Leopold a try. I enjoyed them both very much and
re-watch them almost as much as my Austen favorites. Another movie that I am
sure you are all aware of is The Princess Bride which is a comedy/romance combo
but has all the sweet charm, country side, and English accents to set the mood
for Austen lovers as well. If you have not tried that one you should give it a
watch as well. Enjoy!
Allison Foster
Author
Byline:
Allison
after graduation allows her to combine her two passions: writing and children.
She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com . She can be in touch through e-mail allisonDOTnannyclassifiedsATgmail
rest you know.
I love North and South! I liked it so much when I first saw it, it immediately became my favorite movie. Pride and Prejudice (1995) and North and South are my two most favorite period films.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I enjoyed watching North and South and I love watching Kate and Leopold from time to time.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these movies are good, but North and South is far superior. It is just an amazing movie and the cast is first class. I love, love, love this movie!
ReplyDeleteI think another movie fans of Austen should try, in this vein, is the version of Jane Eyre with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. He is amazing and so is the movie!
I love Elizabeth Gaskell's novels very much. She writes really good.
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE North & South! One of my very favorites.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy Kate & Leopold - fun to watch Hugh Jackman as the duke.
I wish more Authors would write variations on N&S. Its my favorite movie. There are a few good ones but not as many as P&P.
ReplyDelete