I Capture the Castle (film)

I Capture the Castle

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Tim Fywell
Written by Heidi Thomas
Dodie Smith (novel)
Starring Romola Garai
Rose Byrne
Bill Nighy
Henry Thomas
Marc Blucas
Tara FitzGerald
Henry Cavill
Joe Sowerbutts
Music by Dario Marianelli
Cinematography Richard Greatrex
Edited by Roy Sharman
Distributed by Momentum Pictures (UK)
Samuel Goldwyn Films (USA)
Release dates
9 May 2003
Running time
117 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Budget $8 million
Box office $6,586,341

I Capture The Castle is a 2003 film directed by Tim Fywell. It is based on the 1948 novel of the same title by Dodie Smith and was adapted to screenplay by Heidi Thomas. The film was released in the UK on 9 May 2003.

Romola Garai played the lead role of Cassandra Mortmain alongside Bill Nighy, Rose Byrne and Tara FitzGerald.

Synopsis

The film follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai), and the fortunes of her eccentric family, struggling to survive in genteel poverty in a decaying English castle. The characters include: Cassandra's father (Bill Nighy), a writer who hasn't written anything in the twelve years since the spectacular success of his first novel; her exquisite older sister Rose (Rose Byrne) who rails against their fate and hopes to marry for money; and their Bohemian stepmother, Topaz (Tara FitzGerald), an ex-model still apt to sun-bathe in the nude. The possibility of salvation seems to loom in the form of their wealthy American landlord Simon Cotton (Henry Thomas) and his brother Neil (Marc Blucas). Although Simon initially turns her away, Rose is determined to make him fall in love with her and succeeds. A wedding is arranged and Cassandra appears left on the sidelines. But events spiral out of control, and before the summer ends many expectations will have been overturned.

Production

Parts of the film were shot in Laxey film studio on the Isle of Man. Manorbier Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, supplied exteriors for the castle, and Eltham Palace in London some interiors.[1]

Cast

Reception

Based on 81 reviews collected by the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of critics gave I Capture the Castle a positive review, with an average rating of 6.7/10.[2]

References

  1. See film end credits.
  2. "I Capture the Castle (2003)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 23, 2012.

External links