The 2007 made-for-TV-movie adaptation of the Jane Austen novel of the same name, adapted by ITV for a Jane Austen Season. Directed by Adrian Shergold, it stars Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot and Rupert Penry-Jones as Frederick Wentworth; additional cast members include Anthony Head (Sir Walter), Julia Davis (Elizabeth), Tobias Menzies (William), and Alice Krige (Lady Russell).
Following the book, the heroine Anne Elliot was persuaded to end her engagement to the seemingly unworthy suitor, Frederick Wentworth. Years later, a still-unmarried Anne and Wentworth meet again when Wentworth's sister and her husband lease the Elliots' estate, Kellynch Hall, from Anne's dandyish father, Sir Walter. Wentworth has now made his fortune from the navy and is seeking a wife, but he seems to be unaffected by his reunion with Anne and otherwise content with the significant female attention he is receiving. Things are complicated by the arrival of Anne's cousin William, who may or may not want to marry her to keep Kellynch in the family. Can Anne and Wentworth sort out their feelings?
Tropes:
- Adaptational Dumbass:
- Mary Musgrove of the book is a self-absorbed, whiny woman constantly seeking attention, mostly by playing sick. She's certainly not the sharpest tool in the box, but nothing in the book suggests that her intelligence is below average. Here, she's absolutely, utterly idiotic and honestly behaves like a mentally deranged person, always twitching and jerking about, speaking with a nasal voice and laughing and whining all the time and manages to embarrass herself at every opportunity.
- Charles Musgrove is a fairly intelligent and friendly chap in the book. In this version, he's a stupid, ditzy guy who doesn't seem to realize how embarrassing his wife is and behaves like a dimwit. For instance, unlike in the book, he doesn't seem to realize that his wife only pretends to be ill.
- Adapted Out: Richard Musgrove, Charles' deceased younger brother, is never mentioned in this take on the story.
- Alliterative Name: Captain Harville, whose first name in this movie is Harry Harville.
- Race for Your Love: The climax of this version has Anne running all around Bath looking for Captain Wentworth. She first goes to the Crofts' lodgings, where she meets Captain Harville, who gives her a note from Wentworth bearing his declaration of love, that for her alone he thinks and plans. She starts running towards the springs at Bath where Harville told her the Crofts and Wentworth went. Then Anne encounters the Crofts, who tell her that Wentworth had just been there and gone to call on her at Camden Place (the Elliots' townhouse). So Anne is sent off running again, whereupon she bumps into Wentworth and Charles.
