Plot
At 10, Fanny Price, a poor relation, goes to live at Mansfield Park, the estate of her aunt's husband...
Release Year: 1999
Rating: 7.0/10 (8,196 voted)
Critic's Score: 71/100
Director:
Patricia Rozema
Stars: Frances O'Connor, Jonny Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola
Storyline At 10, Fanny Price, a poor relation, goes to live at Mansfield Park, the estate of her aunt's husband, Sir Thomas. Clever, studious, and a writer with an ironic imagination and fine moral compass, she becomes especially close to Edmund, Thomas's younger son. Fanny is soon possessed of beauty as well as a keen mind and comes to the attention of a neighbor, Henry Crawford. Thomas promotes this match, but to his displeasure, Fanny has a mind of her own, asking Henry to prove himself worthy. As Edmund courts Henry's sister and as light shines on the link between Thomas's fortunes and New World slavery, Fanny must assess Henry's character and assert her heart as well as her wit.
Writers: Jane Austen, Patricia Rozema
Cast: Hannah Taylor-Gordon
-
Young Fanny
(as Hannah Taylor Gordon)
Talya Gordon
-
Young Susan
Lindsay Duncan
-
Mrs. Price
/
Lady Bertram
Bruce Byron
-
Carriage Driver
James Purefoy
-
Tom Bertram
Sheila Gish
-
Mrs. Norris
Harold Pinter
-
Sir Thomas Bertram
Elizabeth Eaton
-
Young Maria
Elizabeth Earl
-
Young Julia
Philip Sarson
-
Young Edmond
Amelia Warner
-
Teenage Fanny
Frances O'Connor
-
Fanny Price
Jonny Lee Miller
-
Edmund Bertram
Victoria Hamilton
-
Maria Bertram
Hugh Bonneville
-
Mr. Rushworth
Taglines:
Jane Austen's Wicked Comedy
Release Date: 19 November 1999
Filming Locations: Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK
Opening Weekend: $85,608
(USA)
(21 November 1999)
(8 Screens)
Gross: $4,764,741
(USA)
(5 March 2000)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
In keeping with writer/director Patricia Rozema's updated vision of Mansfield Park, the actresses' costumes and accessories were updated interpretations as well, including modern hosiery and shoes by Emma Hope.
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes:
When Fanny is caught in the rainstorm, under the shelter of a tree, she drops apples out of her basket and squats down to retrieve them. She can be seen reaching to the ground, and with an empty hand, pretend dropping invisible apples into her basket.
Quotes: Edmund Bertram:
And has your heart changed towards him? Fanny Price:
Yes. Many times.
User Review
Why mess with Art?
Rating:
Maybe it was a mistake to watch this adaption of Mansfield Park the day I
finished reading the novel. This production is too modern. Now I
understand that they probably wanted to make it "more appealing" to
today's
moviegoers, and I know that it's hard to fit all a book into a film - but
why did they change the essence of who Fanny Price is? She is a highly
moral, quiet, smart, very put-upon young lady. While Frances O'Connor is
a
wonderful actress, she played Fanny all wrong. She was smiling
(constantly), having pillow fights, speaking her mind. There was no
sense
of period or restraint in her portrayal. I think the writer/director
should
have had more faith in the characters in the book.
With so many storylines to choose from in the book, I wonder why new ones
were added, such as the slave trade and opium use? It is a shame that
Sir
Thomas didn't have the character arc seen in the book, that has him
appreciate Fanny more and show her greater kindness when he returns from
Antigua. In the film he is just always a big, mean bully. Jonny Lee
Miller's Edmund is not nearly pious and conflicted enough. He is meant
to
be joining the clergy.
I am sure I would have thought it was an average film if I didn't know
the
original source, but it was a big disappointment.
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