Persuasion (1995)

My Review

“Persuasion” is set in England in the early 1800’s, some eight years after Anne Elliot was persuaded by others to reject Captain Fred Wentworth’s marriage proposal. Their renewed friendship leads them to think they should reconcile and even seriously consider marriage once again. Director Roger Mitchell put together a film with good production values and wonderful cinematography filmed in scenic south England locales, but with an uneven storyline which leaves the audience to deal numerous gaps of boring dialogue, making the 104 minute running drag on and on. The mediocre teleplay was written by Nick Dear, adapted from the 1817 novel “Persuasion” by Jane Austen.

The cast includes Ciaran Hinds as the captain and Amanda Root as Miss Elliot. Co-stars include Corin Redgrave (brother of Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave), Susan Fleetwood, Fiona Shaw, Phoebe Nicholls, and John Woodvine as Admiral Croft. “Persuasion” first aired on April 16, 1995, on the BBC, who produced the made-for-television film. After a viewing in America on PBS’s “Masterpiece Theater,” it had a limited theatrical release by Sony Pictures Classics.