Northanger Abbey (Repackaged) [DVD] [1987]

….recognisable actors, the writings of a young novelist focusing on the bright lights of Bath, from a protected rural life to being faced with prospective predator families seeking marriages to the wealthiest prospective spouses as possible, with no thought of any true affection.Motives coming from the agendas of those with ulterior motives aiming to manipulate and take advantage.Centres on the spontaneity of an honest young woman who is puzzled by all that seems contradictory, and responds instinctively, learning that there are potential serious pitfalls and danger.Upper and middle class with the seemingly motives being only wealth and prospects for wealth.The writing of Northanger Abbey has insight and probably written from personal experience, and/or observing at close quarters the experiences of others, placing a young naive innocent young woman with the avid interest in reading novels herself, fantasizing about the “what if’s”.

I first saw this on TV and for me the two leads are the definitive Mr Tilney and Catherine Moreland. Katharine Schlesinger has the most expressive blue eyes imaginable and portrays an innocence that is touching. I find her quite mesmerising. Peter Firth never looked more handsome than in Regency dress with his gold curls and he conveys the wit and charm of his role as our hero. I live near Bath and often visit the Pump Room area in the film. I recently saw 'Catherine's' memorable white dress with the blue sash in an exhibition in the costume museum at The Assembly Rooms. The supporting players come warmly to life (including the wonderful Googie Withers as a memorable Mrs Allen) and it is fun to see them 'taking the waters' in the Pump Room baths. I continue to enjoy this little gem more than other later adaptations. I love the ending, the music swelling to emphasise the emotion of declared love and adoration. It would have been a double delight to have learned the fate of the other two thwarted lovers. A recent BBC documentary on the Gothic novels in the Regency period used sequences from this DVD version as an illustration of their style and content. They are very accurate to the Gothic novel which forms part of the plot.Katharine Schlesinger had a distinguished career on the London stage and appeared in Anne Frank and Dr Who amongst other TV appearances. In November 1989 at the National, she played the title role in Steven Berkoff's symbolist stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde's Salomé, a production which transferred to the Phoenix Theatre in January 1990. "Katharine Schlesinger mimed the dance of the seven veils and, without having taken anything off, persuaded a hushed audience that she was standing there totally naked." said critic Robert Tanitch. I am obviously not alone in finding that she has the power to mesmerise.

Anyone who loves this wonderful novel will find much to enjoy here. It is transitional in style, being caught somewhere between the slightly wooden 1970s BBC Austen adaptations and the liveliness and commitment to accurate period detail of anything from the 1995 P+P onwards. So you get plenty of location filming and a desire to present an "authentic" 1800 even at the expense of a certain grotesquerie on the one hand, and on the other lighting and general production values that are broadly similar to a contemporary episode of Dr Who. It consistently makes bold choices (the striking bathing scene in Bath with the floating plates of food must have been a nightmare to set up, occupies only a minute or so of screen time and appears nowhere in the book but looks mad enough to be based on real historical precedent). A difficult, if not impossible, book to adapt as it is so meta-textual and relies for so much of its effect on Jane Austen's authorial voice to underscore the irony, but this is still excellent television. It is a little short of humour for so very funny a book but preserves some of the best exchanges between Catherine and Henry. I do not think you forget for one moment that you are anywhere else but the mid-eighties in England, but once you make allowances for that (which you can very easily do) it is engrossing and fun to watch.

Well known story well acted and produced. Jane Austin at her best.

No issue with product, good condition. Agree with other reviews that this isn't the best adaptation

Very nice acting, the quality of the DVD is good. The only strange feature of the film is the occasionally electronic music which does not seem to suit either time or plot.

I'm really writing this in defense of the other reviews I have read.Yes this adaptation is a little dated and yes there are newer adaptations which may stick more closely to the plot but I liked this.The music is not the usual tingly piano chords but I find it refreshing.Also the actors may not be conventionally attractive but does this really detract from a period drama?This is one of Austens more unusual novels as she pays homage to radcliffe ( an acknowleged female author at the time) with a over developed gothic theme.I think that this follows that theme and shows the lighter side of this novel.The romance may seem a little forced at times but this is common of many period dramas of this time (try little women) where subtext and accuracy to story were not as important as ratings.I would say try this if you are an Austen fan as it may suprise you.

Great service, super fast Postage. Highly recommended. Thank you. A * * * * *