I Capture the Castle ** (2002, Romola Garai, Rose Byrne, Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald, Henry Cavill, Henry Thomas, Marc Blucas) – Classic Movie Review 3009

Alas, Dodie Smith’s distinguished novel makes a disappointing, bloodless love story and coming-of-age movie, set in England in the Thirties.

Romola Garai stars as young gel, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, in and out of love against the admittedly picturesque background of her determinedly odd family, struggling to survive in a decaying English castle.

It’s an attractive cast, and Bill Nighy’s amusingly colourful performance as the novelist dad, James Mortman, is an asset, but Tim Fywell’s 2002 film is often more tiresome than charming. Helena Little plays Mother, Rose Byrne is the exquisite sister Rose, and Tara Fitzgerald is the Bohemian step-mother Topaz. Henry Cavill, Henry Thomas (as their American landlord Simon Cotton) and Marc Blucas (as his brother Neil) are the handsome young men in question.

Rose is determined to make Simon fall in love with her, but what of Cassandra?

Heidi Thomas wrote the screenplay.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3009

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