NORTHANGER ABBEY

UK, 2007, 84 minutes, Colour.
Felicity Jones, Carey Mulligan, J.J.Feild, William Beck, Liam Cunningham.
Directed by Jon Jones.

During the 21st-century period of the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s novels, there were a number of film versions and, especially, television versions in the United Kingdom. This is the television version of Northanger Abbey.

It is very brief, as was the original novel, the last of Jane Austen’s to be published but first written. it has the expected romantic heroine, her family with financial difficulties, going into society, encountering men, shocked at personal betrayals, falling in love…

Catherine is nicely played by Felicity Jones who was to go on to a successful career and an Oscar nomination for The Theory of Everything, Stephen Hawking’s wife. Also in the cast is a young Carey Mulligan, also to move to a substantial career. She is the fickle and flirtatious friend. J.J.Feild is the parson, Tilney, courteous to Catherine and her friends, a parson expected to marry well, especially in the views of his stern father, General Tilney, Liam Cunningham.

The film has attractive presentations of the countryside, of society in Bath, the carriages on the streets, the ballroom, as well as the countryside around the imposing Abbey.

The film also has some satire on the romantic novels of the period, the Gothic touch with sexuality, melting heroines, dominating heroes, especially those of Mrs Radcliffe. Catherine reads passionately, imagines situations, herself in the novels – but, ultimately, making rash judgement about General Tilney and her being ousted from the Abbey, she burns the book.

1. The popularity Jane Austen’s novels? Her plots, characters? 200 years later?

2. The settings, English counties, the countryside, homes? The city of Bath, society? Northanger? Country, the score?

3. The status of Jane Austen’s films, this television film?

4. Jane Austen heroines, young women, interest, strong romantic, proper, their status, financial situation and society, friendships, the variations on these themes?

5. Jane Austen, who views on the contemporary romantic novels? Those of Mrs Radcliffe? Passion, sexuality, the imagination? The visualising of Catherine’s dreams?

6. The romantic novels, affecting Catherine’s behaviour and opinions? The consequences and her suspicions of General Tilney? Her final burning of the book?

7. Jane Austen’s voice-over, the description of Catherine at the beginning and the end? As a child, plain, playing with the other children, relationship with her parents, family life, growing up?

8. The visit of the Allens? Their request, her going to Bath, their wealth, their home, place in society, looking for a seat at the social, Tilney helping, his conversation? Catherine encountering Isabelle, the friendship? Her engagement to James? The presence of Thorpe, his manner, Catherine and the dances?

9. Tilney, his character, parson, relationship with his father, his older brother, Eleanor? His courtesy, the attraction to Catherine, the irony of his expectations for a lucrative marriage?

10. Thorpe, issues of money, his advice to the General? The character of the General, stern, his attitude, inviting Catherine to the Abbey, the story of his wife, her portrait in the room, his not wanting people to enter? His stern manner? His wife’s illness, his treatment of her? Catherine’s response, novelist imagination? Going to the room, being discovered, the clash with Tilney, his anger, her journey home?

11. Isabelle, in Bath society, having no income, flighty, friendship with Catherine, engagement to James? Seeing the older Tilney, military, flirting with him? Her clash with Catherine, going with Tilney, the sexual encounter, being discarded – and the comment that she would recover?

12. The older Tilney, military, character, women, Isabelle, using her, the clash with his younger brother?

13. Catherine, enjoying Bath, proper, shocked at behaviour, the break with Isabelle, going to the Abbey, the walks with Eleanor, enjoying the visit?

14. Tilney and his anger, Catherine leaving, travelling in the coach?

15. Catherine at home, telling the stories to the children, Tilney arriving, his courtesy towards the family, to walk with Catherine, proposal – and a happy ending, Jane Austen style?