Cold Comfort Farm (film)
| Cold Comfort Farm | |
|---|---|
 US theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Schlesinger |
| Screenplay by | Malcolm Bradbury |
| Produced by | Alison Gilby Richard Broke |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Chris Seager |
| Edited by | Mark Day |
| Music by | Robert Lockhart |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | BBC (UK) Gramercy Pictures (US) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $5,682,429[1] |
Cold Comfort Farm is a 1995 British comedy film directed by John Schlesinger and produced by the BBC and Thames Television, an adaptation of Stella Gibbons' 1932 book of the same name, the film stars Kate Beckinsale, Joanna Lumley, Ian McKellen and Rufus Sewell. Originally broadcast on 1 January 1995 on the BBC, it was Schlesinger's final film shot in his home country of Britain, and was picked up for theatrical release in North America through Gramercy Pictures, where it was a small success.
Plot
Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale), an orphan in the 1920s, moves to the country with her rustic and backward relatives, the Starkadders. The Starkadders live in a run-down farm off the beaten track in Sussex. Flora resolves to fix their situation.
After the death of her estranged parents, Flora, who is an aspiring writer, decides that the only way for her to live whilst researching her writing is to stay with relatives. Her city-based relatives show no interest, so she sends letters to her country relatives. There are a few responses, most of which are unsuitable, but one is intriguing. She decides to go and stay with these relatives. The scene is complicated, but Flora soon realises that she can resolve the situation once she has assessed and solved each character's problems. Whilst she is doing so, she is pursued by a most unsuitable suitor, a most obnoxious character, whom she would do well to avoid. In the process of her endeavours, the multitude of the complexities of the farm expose themselves and Flora excels at resolving all the issues.
All the while it seems that things are impossible, but they are resolved in the end.
Cast
- Kate Beckinsale as Flora Poste
- Joanna Lumley as Mrs. Mary Smiling
- Ian McKellen as Amos Starkadder
- Rufus Sewell as Seth Starkadder
- Eileen Atkins as Judith Starkadder
- Sheila Burrell as Ada Doom
- Stephen Fry as Mybug
- Freddie Jones as Adam Lambsbreath
- Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Beetle
- Ivan Kaye as Reuben Starkadder
- Jeremy Peters as Urk
- Maria Miles as Elfine Starkadder
- Christopher Bowen as Charles Fairford
- Louise Rea as Meriam Beetle
- Sophie Revell as Rennet
- Rupert Penry-Jones as Dick Hawk-Monitor
- Angela Thorne as Mrs. Hawk-Monitor
- Harry Ditson as Earl P. Neck
Film Locations
The production visited Kent where they filmed at Kent & East Sussex Railway which provided the trains for Flora’s journey from London to her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm and Northiam station in East Sussex which is the fictional railway station of Beershorne.
The Royal Military Canal was also used for scenes where Flora and Amos walk and chat.[2]
Reception
Cold Comfort Farm received generally positive reviews; it currently holds an 84% 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[3] During its theatrical release in North America, the film grossed $5,682,429.[1]
References
- ^ a b Cold Comfort Farm at Box Office Mojo
- ^ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Cold Comfort Farm Article".
- ^ Cold Comfort Farm at Rotten Tomatoes
External links
- 1995 films
- 1990s romantic comedy films
- British films
- British romantic comedy films
- English-language films
- Films directed by John Schlesinger
- Films about orphans
- Films based on British novels
- Films set in Sussex
- Films set in the 1920s
- Films shot in England
- British independent films
- Universal Pictures films
- BBC Films films
- Films set in country houses
- Gramercy Pictures films