Product Description

Jane Austen?s romantic masterpiece comes to DVD in a thrilling new production from the BBC and Masterpiece Theatre. Anne Elliot fell deeply in love with the handsome young naval officer Frederick Wentworth at the age of nineteen. But with neither fortune nor rank to recommend him Anne was persuaded to break off her engagement. Eight years later Anne has lived to regret her decision. She never stopped loving Wentworth and when he returns from sea with a fortune and rank she can only watch as every eligible young woman in the district falls at his feet.Running Time: 93 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/BBC UPC: 883929005475 Manufacturer No: 1000036150

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #794 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2008-01-15
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.com
Jane Austen fans will delight in the sumptuous production design and first-rate acting in the 2007 Masterpiece Theatre version of Persuasion. Sally Hawkins is controlled and moving as Anne Elliot, the quietly heartbroken but sensible heroine who was "persuaded" (read: forced) to turn away her true love but still carries an unseen torch for him. Hawkins's performance is genteel yet steely, and the quiet strength of the entire production. Hawkins looks alternately quietly lovely and sadly pinched--as one might expect the long frustrated Anne to look.

Other highlights include a post-Buffy Anthony Head, as Anne's clueless, blustery father, Sir Walter. Head gets to turn on his deft comic talent here in ways most American audiences have not yet seen him; he's clearly enjoying himself immensely, blustering about "my shrubberies" and other trivial affairs. The cinematography is lush (several breathtaking tracking shots are used, especially early on), as are the period costumes. The production was filmed exclusively on location, and the reality of the sets enforces the story.

Some fans may prefer the 1995 Amanda Root version, for the casting of Ciaran Hinds as Capt. Wentworth, but this later effort is a worthy entry in the Austen film oeuvre--and Rupert Penry-Jones is a dreamboat in his own right. As the wistful Anne says, on behalf of all women, "We do not forget you, so soon as you forget us." --A.T. Hurley

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable...,
This production may not be accurate and in keeping with the novel but I liked it.

Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins have wonderful chemistry together and she as Anne Eliott give s a really moving performance as the heart-broken and long suffering Anne who was 'persuaded', forced,) by her controlling family and dear friend to turn away the man she loved a long time ago, beause he was not suitable for a baron's daughter.
And meeting him again after all these years, both their circumstances have changed. She knows her feelings for him hasn't changed at all and knows agony once more knowing he is ready to settle down and has chosen his bride. He is cold towards her and despite his anger at her when she broke up with him, he can't help but worry over her now.

Rupert Penry-Jones is gorgeous as the cold and aloof Wentworth. Loved the scene when he meets Lady Russell again for the first time since she separated him and Anne and is so chilling but unfailingly polite. And the little things he does against his will, shows he still as some feeling for Anne.

I didn't like the end scenes with Anne running the streets of Bath, looking for Wenthworth. Whats with that? In those days well brought up ypung ladies wouldn't be caught dead behaving like that.
But despite that and few other descrepencies, quite enjoyed this version.

Favorite Moments
A couple more hilarious moments that I don't notice other reviewers mentioning:

-- Wentworth and Harville ignoring the drenching swells that are about the wash them off the Cobb.
-- Charles Musgrove crossing the log bridge and strolling around the dining room leaving his shotgun unbroken and in firing position. I was a little disappointed that he didn't take out any of the characters that I could have done without seeing for the following sixty minutes.

The best Austen Romance ever!
This was a wonderful surprise! I loved it. it turned out to be, in my opinion, Jane Austen's most romantic novel to date. Truly well acted, well directed and pure Austen!!!! WONDERFUL! You'll watch it over and over again. BRAVO!