Enchanted April **** (1991, Alfred Molina, Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson) – Classic Movie Review 9081

The 1991 British drama Enchanted April is an enchanting version of the sentimental tale based on Elizabeth von Arnim’s novel, with director Mike Newell bringing the talent he showed in Dance with a Stranger to bear on the stylish acting, Twenties period atmosphere and sleek shots by cinematographer Rex Maidment. It was popular and won two Golden Globes and was nominated for three Oscars.

Josie Lawrence stars as Lottie Wilkins, who leaves boring husband Mellersh Wilkins (Alfred Molina) at home in soggy London and goes off for a month to live in an Italian castello with writer Frederick Arbuthnot (Jim Broadbent)’s wife Rose Arbuthnot (Miranda Richardson), snooty widow Mrs Fisher (Joan Plowright) and high-born Caroline Dester (Polly Walker).

Joan Plowright can do this part standing on her head, but it is still a lovely turn and she won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Miranda Richardson is tremendous too, and she won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. The screenplay by Peter Barnes is serviceable, though is not exactly in the E M Forster class, but otherwise the film is lovely. Nevertheless, Barnes was Oscar nominated for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, while Sheena Napier was Oscar nominated for Best Costume Design.

Also in the cast are Michael Kitchen, Adriana Facchetti, Stephen Beckett, Neville Phillips, Matthew Radford, Davide Manuli, Vittorio Duse and Anna Longhi.

Enchanted April was previously filmed by Harry Beaumont in 1935, with Ann Harding, Frank Morgan, Katharine Alexander and Reginald Owen.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9081

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