Written by Maggie Wadey based on the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Iain B. MacDonald
Produced by Suzan Harrison, Rebecca Eaton, George Faber and Charles Pattison
Main Cast-
Fanny Price - Billie Piper
Lord Bertram - Douglas Hodge
Lady Bertram - Jemma Redgrave
Thomas Bertram - James D'arcy
Maria Bertram - Michelle Ryan
Julia Bertram - Catherine Steadman
Edmund Bertram - Blake Ritson
Mary Crawford - Hayley Atwell
Henry Crawford - Joseph Beattie
Mrs. Norris - Maggie O'Neill
Review-
Let me first admit that I've never read the book version of Mansfield Park, so I don't know how closely this television movie adheres to the novel version. Since the film only runs ninety minutes, I'm sure that there's a great deal left out from the original novel.
This joint ITV-PBS production generally follows the story of Fanny Price who is sent to live with her rich uncle and aunt, the Lord and Lady Bertram, at Mansfield Park in rural England. Once there, the young Fanny is generally ignored or treated like the poor relation that she is. Only the younger son Edmund goes out of his way to befriend the young Fanny.
The story really begins to take off with the arrival of the siblings Mary and Henry Crawford to Mansfield Park. Mary and Henry each set their sights on one of the Bertram siblings, in Mary's case the younger son Edmund and in Henry's case the younger daughter Julia. However, Henry becomes captivated by the already engaged older sister Maria.
Henry, clearly portrayed as something of a playboy, later decides to play with the affections of Fanny. Henry even proposes to Fanny, who turns him down as she's secretly fallen in love with Edmund but also because Fanny is well aware of Henry's playboy nature. Fanny's refusual encourages Henry to act upon his feelings for Maria, and Maria's husband sues for divorce. Maria's actions bring scandal to the Bertram's good name.
Mary Crawford and Edmund have a falling out over the scandal, and break up. After this, Edmund realizes his affections for Fanny and the two are married to end the film.
The biggest problem with Mansfield Park is that the most intriguing characters are, by far, the Crawford siblings. Henry, as a playboy, toys with the affections of women and his affair with Maria that finally exposes him for his true nature. This affair also exposes Mary Crawford's true nature to Edmund, as it's clear that Mary is far more concerned about the fact that the affair has been exposed rather than how that exposure will affect the Bertram family. Indeed, from their first appearance in the film, it's Mary and Henry who in many ways drive the plot, with the Bertram's simply reacting to the Crawford's schemes.
Billie Piper struggles to carry the film, but then again Fanny comes off as such a timid and shy character that it must have been a rather difficult character to play. After all, she has to come off as the only character without any major flaws or vices, but also be interesting as well. Blake Ritson, who plays Edmund, also has a difficult task in making the upstanding Edmund an interesting character. I think he succeeds, perhaps a bit more so than Billie as Fanny.
Fortunately, the supporting cast is quite strong. As the Crawford siblings, Hayley Atwell (best known for the Captain America film) and Joseph Beattie are excellent. Joseph Hodge is also excellent as the stern, but not uncaring, Lord Bertram and is, in my own opinion, the standout of the supporting cast.
Michelle Ryan (Lady Christina de Souza in Doctor Who) gets very little screen time, and disappears from the latter half of the film. Indeed, this is a shame as it might have proved to be a very moving scene to see Henry Crawford and Maria Bertram's reaction to the revelation of their affair (all of this takes place off screen).
As I said back at the beginning of this review, I've never read Mansfield Park so I don't know if some of the film's flaws come from the novel or are simply flaws in this film version. But overall, while I found the film an enjoyable experience, if I'm being realistic it is probably a somewhat average adaptation of a classic novel. If you're a fan of Billie Piper, it's certainly worth checking out but just be aware that Billie Piper's Fanny Price is no Rose Tyler.
It should be worth noting that the US DVD released by PBS is edited, while the Blu-Ray version is the original unedited UK version of the film. Therefore, I recommend either renting or buying the Blu-Ray version of the film.
Tomorrow, I'll be posting a review of Ripper Street, after which my next planned posting will on Monday, May 27th where I'll be reviewing the Mind of Evil, as I return to my Doctor Who marathon viewing after my attendance at Timegate.
