Persuasion (2007 film)
Persuasion is a 2007 British television film adaptation of Jane Austen's 1817 novel Persuasion. It was directed by Adrian Shergold, and the screenplay was written by Simon Burke. Sally Hawkins stars as the protagonist Anne Elliot, while Rupert Penry-Jones plays Captain Frederick Wentworth. Eight years prior to the film's beginning, Anne was persuaded to reject Wentworth's proposal of marriage. Now 27 and unmarried, Anne re-encounters Wentworth, who has made his fortune in the Napoleonic Wars and is looking for a wife—anyone but Anne, whom he has not forgiven for rejecting him all those years ago.
Persuasion
Simon Burke
United Kingdom
English
David Snodin
David Odd
Kristina Hetherington
92 minutes
1 April 2007
Persuasion was one of three novels adapted in 2007 for ITV's Jane Austen Season. It was the first of the three adaptations to begin development. The drama was co-produced by Clerkenwell Films and American studio WGBH Boston. Persuasion premiered on 1 April 2007 in the United Kingdom and was watched by 5.4 million viewers. Persuasion received positive reviews from television critics.
Plot[edit]
The Elliot family face financial difficulties from the imprudent spending of baronet Sir Walter Elliot and his eldest daughter, Elizabeth. His lawyer proposes that the family estate, Kellynch Hall, be leased to Admiral Croft as a source of income, but middle daughter Anne Elliot is distraught at the prospect of having to abandon her childhood home.
The admiral is married to Sophie, sister of Captain Frederick Wentworth, a naval captain to whom Anne was engaged eight years earlier. Wentworth was then penniless and without a ship at the outset of a dangerous career, and the union was discouraged by Sir Walter and Anne's surrogate mother, Lady Russell, who convinced her to break off the engagement. Years later, Anne is seemingly past marriageable age, while Wentworth, now risen in rank and wealthy from prize money, is eager to find a wife.
Sir Walter and Elizabeth depart for Bath with Elizabeth's companion Mrs. Clay. Anne goes to stay with her younger sister Mary, who is married to Charles Musgrove and lives on the Musgrove family's estate at nearby Uppercross. Wentworth visits his sister at Kellynch and makes friends with the Musgroves. Anne and Wentworth meet again, but he appears cold and distant. She is convinced that he will never forgive her, nor love her again. Her disappointment is worsened by the attention Wentworth is given by Charles' sisters Louisa and Henrietta, both younger and more desired than her.
Wentworth intends to travel to Lyme to visit his comrades Captains Harville and Benwick; the Musgroves and Anne go as well. In Lyme, Benwick has been inconsolable since the death of his fiancée (Harville's sister) while he was at the Cape and spends his days reading poetry and lamenting his loss. Familiar with books, loss and disappointment, Anne is able to encourage Benwick.
In a dangerous demonstration of steadfastness, Louisa jumps from the Cobb seawall towards Wentworth, slipping and striking her head. Unconscious, she is taken to Harville's home to recover. Wentworth escorts Anne and Henrietta back to Uppercross to inform Louisa's parents of her injury. Anne and Wentworth bid each other a seemingly final farewell.
Anne joins her father and sister in Bath, where they have been receiving the attentions of William Elliot, a cousin who is the heir presumptive to Sir Walter's estate and baronetcy. He is apparently wealthy and gracious to the Elliots. Anne finds herself the subject of his interest but detects a false note in his manner.
While Louisa recovers, Wentworth realises his feelings towards Anne are unchanged, but Harville informs him that an attachment is assumed between Wentworth and Louisa. Dismayed, Wentworth takes Harville's advice to leave, and visits his brother in Shropshire. Returning a few weeks later, he learns that Louisa and Benwick are engaged. Delighted at this, Wentworth goes to Bath under the pretext of visiting his sister.
Wentworth learns that William Elliot has been courting Anne. Having heard rumours of William's proposal, Admiral Croft sends Wentworth to tell Anne that if she and William wish to reside at Kellynch after their wedding, he would be willing to cancel his lease. To Wentworth's surprise, Anne tells him the admiral is mistaken, as she has not consented to marry William. They are interrupted by the arrival of Lady Russell and are unable to speak privately. Wentworth slips away and subsequently writes a note for Anne, confessing his long-held love and his desire to marry her.
Anne excuses herself from the visitors and runs after Wentworth but cannot find him. She encounters her good friend Mrs. Smith, who informs her that William has been deceitful. He covets the baronetcy and had secretly planned to install Mrs. Clay as his mistress once his marriage to Anne was consummated, thus preventing Mrs. Clay from accepting Sir Walter's marriage proposal and the possible birth of a son who would have ruined his claim to the estate. Anne continues her search for Wentworth and meets Harville, who gives her Wentworth's note.
Anne finally finds Wentworth and accepts his proposal. Wentworth asks if she is sure she is willing to marry him. Anne replies that she has never been more determined in her life and kisses him.
Production[edit]
Conception and adaptation[edit]
On 10 November 2005, The Guardian's Julia Day reported ITV controller of drama, Nick Elliott, had ordered three new adaptations of Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.[1] Elliot commented that the adaptations would be "important remakes for the new generation".[2] He explained "About every 10 years, all the great stories need retelling. These films will be very much 2007 films... we've asked and pushed the production team to make them young."[2] Screenwriter Simon Burke created the convention of a diary to aide the audience in understanding the intense feelings of loss the outwardly reserved Anne Elliot was going through. Using small parts of Austen's narration, he placed it in the hand of Anne. After much reading and research, Hawkins came to view the character of Anne Elliot as a view of Jane Austen herself.[3] With Hawkins over-voicing the diary entries the person of Jane Austen is brought to life. This, coupled with director Adrian Shergold having Anne occasionally break the Fourth wall lent a sense of intimacy between the audience and the lead character, and with Jane Austen.[4]
Elliott revealed that he had deliberately shied away from ordering adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility to focus on Austen's lesser known works.[2] Each of the three productions created during the Jane Austen Season were made by a different company, cast and director, so they each had "a distinct look".[5]
Promotion and broadcast[edit]
ITV launched a nationwide campaign to promote its Jane Austen Season.[17] The campaign included three television adverts and cinema, outdoor and press adverts.[17] ITV Creative made the 20, 30 and 60 second promotional trailers, which began airing on ITV channels from 25 February 2007.[18] The following day, adverts began appearing in selected national press publications.[18] The outdoor and press adverts were created by M&C Saatchi, while MindShare carried out the media buying.[17]
Persuasion was the third of the Austen adaptations to be shown in the UK.[19] It was broadcast on ITV at 9:00 pm on 1 April 2007.[19] The drama aired on the TVOntario channel in Canada on 30 December 2007.[20] Persuasion was shown on 13 January 2008 on the US channel PBS as part of their Austen Masterpiece Theatre series.[21] On 8 June, the film was broadcast on Australia's ABC1 channel.[3]