After finishing Northanger Abbey, I popped in the BBC film version of the novel. I had a feeling that this version would be very dry and to the point. It was infact...just that. It had the feel of a 1970s film, with the filming technique and the film used, the quality is not what I am use to. The BBC version did not follow the novel as I would have liked. Things were skipped over and the order kind of muddled. The filmmakers had the Allen's and Catherine drive by Northanger Abbey on the way to Bath, which isn't that big of a deal but it bothered me nonetheless!
I am eager to find and watch the Masterpiece version of this Austen classic. I may have the bar set high, but I am hardly ever disappointed by Masterpiece Theater. Currently they are running a Charles Dickens' set, which is the next author we will be studying! I am very excited.
I love the Masterpiece theater version! At least I think it is the Masterpiece version... anyway in the movie they show her obsession with gothic novels through her dreams. She falls asleep reading and then dreams that she is the herione and Tilney is the dark and mysterious hero. I thought it followed the book very well and though it couldn't put everything in it put most. During their walk in the woods Eleanore runs into her beau of whom their father disaproves. Henry warns Catherine not to say anything. I thought that was a nice touch because in the book he is barely mentioned even though he plays the great role of allowing Tilney and Catherine to marry at the end. All the characters were played wonderfully. They do go more into Isabella's downfall with the elder Tilney brother. In the movie they show her in bed asking when they are to be married. He of course has no intention of marrying her. Now in the book of course Austen keeps it zipped and doesn't mention why the engagement fell apart, although the reader does know it is because of Captian Tilney and you can guess. All in all it is a very good movie and well worth renting.
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