Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-26
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Synopsis

Northanger Abbey is an Eighteenth Century drama adapted from the novel by Jane Austen. Catherine Morland arrives at Northanger upon the invitation of Henry Tilney, only to discover that the place is shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

Customer Reviews

An enjoyable production, but it has its flaws
I have yet to see a perfect film or television adaptation of Northanger Abbey, but this one probably comes as close as any. It has its flaws, particularly in some of the screenplay. This has its weaknesses particularly in the dialogue, although I suppose this is inevitable when one tries to condense a novel into 93 minutes. The wonderful scene at the dance with that delightful conversation between Henry and Catherine where Henry says "Then we are on very unequal terms , for I understand you perfectly well", to which Catherine replies with one of the best lines in the novel: "Me? Yes, I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible", is left out of this adaptation in its entirety. Indeed, much of the dialogue which defines Catherine's character is left out, or altered inappropriately. Her attractive honesty and naïvety, and the less easily perceived complexities of her character are thus given little chance to be defined. Other characters also are not quite correctly drawn. Mrs Allen, for example, is rather too rational and intelligent to be consistent with her character in the book. John Thorpe, probably the worst example of mis-characterization, while not exactly pleasant, is far from being the utterly obnoxious character he is in the novel. This places a completely different complexion on some of the important scenes which are included. We also have the almost obligatory change of plot in modern adaptations, i.e. the way in which Catherine is expelled from the Abbey, thus making the main characters reaction to it, and the story's ultimate dénoument, a little less forceful and a little more contrived. There are other flaws, but I won't continue to enumerate them. On the whole it is well done, and I enjoyed it very much.

Brilliant
Having seen the older BBC adaptation of Northanger Abbey with Peter Firth (which was awful), I was a bit skeptical as to what this one would be like when it first came out. But, how wrong I was! I was delighted with this, as not only is it faithful to the book, the settings and the music are all brilliant too, as well as the acting. Felicity Jones is perfect as Catherine Morland, as is J.J. Field in the part of Henry Tilney; not to mention Carey Mulligan as Isabella and Catherine Walker as Eleanor.
A splendid version (definitely the best Northanger Abbey), but then, hardly surprising, seeing as the great Andrew Davies did the screenplay! :)
Highly recommended.

northanger abbey
Yes, it was witty and enjoyable. I am glad that I have added this to my Austen Collection. Loved the photography in Bath. I wasn't so impresed with the acting but overall a good interpretation. Our Jane was quite a racy woman.