So I saw Sense and Sensibility a few weeks ago and liked it, and I also enjoyed the 2005 Pride and Prejudice (shush!). Watching Love, Actually last night (which is just full of wonderful Brit actors, a few of which were in the aforementioned Austen movies) got me in a romantic movie mood.
Any recs for historical romances, especially in the same era as the two historicals I listed? I’d search the boards, but, uh, you know…
I would heartily recommend “Persuasion” which is another in the Austen series with Ciaran Hinds–I found it to be exceptionally good. Or you could go with “Emma” just to stay in the same vein, but I wasn’t as impressed.
Just my 2 cents.
A Room with a View still holds up quite nicely, and if you don’t mind subtitles, then Truffaut’s exquisite Two English Girls fits the bill, too.
The movie Vanity Fair is set in that era, even though it is based on a book written some 30-odd years later. But in contrast with Austen, Thackeray has a more cynical realism, and the story doesn’t end so happiiy for everyone.
I much prefer the BBC Pride and Prejudice - only Colin Firth could be Darcy! But I digress…
How about Possession, from the A.S. Byatt novel. It’s a mystery showing two stories, set 100 years apart, so not all period, but certainly in the same vein as the others you’ve talked about.
Also Mansfield Park, Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove, Where Angels fear to Tread, Howard’s End, Oscar and Lucinda or if you like Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Ernest.
Different feeling, but I also love Dangerous Liaisons.
Age of Innocence (another that doesn’t have a terribly happy ending).
You’ve just missed most of the PBS Masterpeice Jane Austen, but an Emma adaptation and a Sense and Senability adaptation are yet to be shown.
And you NEED to see the BBC P&P. Since its like six hours long, it is three movies.
(Possession is a way better book than movie, but if you can ignore the idiocy of casting Aaron Eckhart, the movie is enjoyable).
Oh my god, oh my god! This is my specialty!
These might not all be strictly romances, but they are good movies.
Renaissance/Elizabethan/Early Stuff
– Ever After (1998) – Drew Barrymore, retelling of the Cinderella story. It’s set in 16th-century France, but all the costumes are 15th-century Italian. Baffling, but I love it too much not to watch it.
– Shakespeare in Love (1998) – Completely and utterly made up version of the events that inspired Willie Shakes to write “Romeo & Juliet.” Despite this, it’s one of my favorite movies.
– Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) – Beautiful to watch, though the costuming is kinda messed up from a historical standpoint.
– Orlando (1992) – Based on a Virginia Woolf novel and weird as heck compared to the others. Stars the incomparable Tilda Swinton, who looks equally wonderful as a man as she does as a woman. Also, scantily clad Billy Zane as a not-a-jerk.
Georgian (18th century)
– The Madness of King George (1994) – Not a romance, but really, awesomely good
– Dangerous Liaisons (1988) – This version has John Malkovich in it, and he creeps me out, so I prefer “Valmont”. Michelle Pfeiffer also doesn’t work for me as an 18th-century French woman. Gorgeous costuming, wonderful story for either version.
– Valmont (1989) – Very similar to “Dangerous Liaisons,” this time with Colin Firth. The review on the IMDB page pretty much sums up my feelings between the two films.
– Amazing Grace (2006) – Not a romance, but a biopic of the guy who wrote “Amazing Grace” and his struggle to end British slavery. Rather good; hair big enough to make a girl from Dallas weep.
– Marie Antoinette (2006) – Kirsten Dunst, beautiful costuming, not exactly a romance, but definitely a costume movie.
– Much Ado About Nothing (199) – Best Kenneth Branaugh adaptation of Shakespeare ever. My favorite Shakespearean play and a whole host of excellent British actors (plus Denzel Washington) to carry it off. Many pairs of tight breeches.
Regency (early 19th century)
– Persuasion (1995) – Ciaran Hinds, Amanda Root, the definitive movie version of Austen’s novel. Probably my favorite adaptation of Austen ever.
– Becoming Jane (2007) – Totally made up; don’t see it if historical inaccuracies outrage you. I haven’t seen it, but others whose opinions I respect have given it great reviews.
– Emma (1997) – Kate Beckinsale edition; much better than the Gwyneth Paltrow version.
– Master & Commander (2003) – Not a romance, but great nonetheless, especially considering all the naval references in Austen. This movie is amazing!
– Northanger Abbey (2007) – This is the best of the recent ITV adaptations that played/are playing this spring on Masterpiece Theatre. I’m not sure of its availability on DVD.
– Mansfield Park (1999) – This one is Hollywood, not the UK/BBC/what have you. I liked this much better than the more recent one with Rose from “Dr. Who”. Doesn’t follow the book.
Victorian
– North & South (2004) – Nothing to do with the American Civil War, this stars Daniela Danby-Ashe and Richard Armitage (a.k.a. sex on legs) and is set in the industrial north of England in the 1850s. I like this better than the Colin Firth “Pride & Prejudice.”
– Angels & Insects (1995) – Based on a book by the same author as “Persuasion”. So, so, so much better than the adaptation of “Persuasion” with Aaron Eckhart and Gwyneth Paltrow. Very dark.
– Jane Eyre (2006) – Way better than the 1997 version, I think. It really nailed the fact that Jane and Rochester had a witty, passionate relationship, and were genuinely attracted to each other. Yeah, I like it because there’s more kissing time, and Toby Stephens looks less weird than my beloved Ciaran Hinds does with that goofy moustache.
– Daniel Deronda (2002) – Early bustle dresses galore, dreamy Hugh Dancy, scheming Romola Garai.
– Tipping the Velvet (2002) – Lesbian vaudeville love. Based on a Sarah Waters novel and seriously good.
– Fingersmith (2005) – Another Sarah Waters novel, another wonderful movie. Not as good as “Tipping the Velvet,” I think, but still really satisfying.
– Impromptu (1991) – Tells the story of the affair between Chopin and George Sand (lady author). I enjoyed it a lot, but I like plucky women in historical movies who wear pants and piss off German composers.
I think I’ll stop there. If you want some late Victorian and Edwardian recommendations, let me know!
Once you’ve had your surfeit of British costume cinema, then I suggest you watch “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story”. I thought it was absolutely hilarious, but you need to be familiar with the kind of historical movies produced in the UK in the past 20 years to get the most out of it.
Finally, check out the listing here, at Démodé. (I think I might have suggested most of the Regency flicks, though.) The woman who runs that site/blog also does a podcast called Frock Flicks with two other California costumers, which focuses on historical costuming in film. It’s not just nitpicking historical inaccuracies; they also discuss what makes good and bad costume design.
Miss Purl, I would like the late Victorian and Edwardian recommendations, please! I’ve seen and enjoyed most of your list, but there are a few I need to add to my Netflix queue. (Marie Antoinette has been on my DVR for a couple of months, waiting for my love of costume drama to overcome my hatred for Kirsten Dunst.)
Thanks for the recs, everyone! I had tried the BBC version of P&P, but didn’t make it very far because it just seemed a little corny to me - too authentic? laughs I definitely need to look up Persuasion, I really liked Hinds in HBO’s Rome.