Masterpiece Theatre: Frenchman's Creek | 
| Director: Ferdinand Fairfax
Actors: Tim Dutton, Tara Fitzgerald, Daniel Webb, Anthony Delon, Rupert Vansittart
Studio: WGBH Boston
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 26.99
Buy New: CDN$ 15.34
You Save: CDN$ 11.65 (43%)
New (13) Used (2) from CDN$ 15.34
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 11012
Format: Ntsc
Languages: Dutch (Original Language), English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 33739
UPC: 783421337398
EAN: 0783421337398
ASIN: B000FGFUW2
Theatrical Release Date: 1998
Release Date: June 27, 2006
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new Item, factory Sealed. Buy direct from the U.S. and save! We only ship airmail to Canada (7-15 days).Caiman, les prix qu'on aime! Tous nos produits sont neufs. Envoi par avion des Etats-Unis
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
From Amazon.com
This picaresque bodice-ripper is far more engrossing than one might expect, but then again it has a good pedigree. Based on a novel by Daphne du Maurier, the Restoration-era tale concerns Dona St. Columb (Tara Fitzgerald), a Catholic in the age of William and Mary and a survivor of Cromwell's repression. Married to an older, foolish aristocrat whom she easily manipulates, Dona has cultivated a suggestion of scandal to enhance her natural reputation as a tough, willful, cigarette-puffing Londoner. In an effort to get away from intrigues at the royal court, Dona takes her two children and heads for the family's Cornwall estate, where she hopes to find peace. She soon discovers, however, that French pirates turned patriots have been making use of her land, home, and even housekeeping staff to aid in France's war against Britain. Initially outraged, Dona is soon swayed by the pirates' passion for their cause and feels the absence in herself of a similar authenticity. The solution: join the raiders on their exploits and become the lover of their handsome captain (Anthony Delon). The story hums along most entertainingly and Fitzgerald's focused performance, both harsh and sensuous, provides a sturdy backbone to the drama. Delon mostly smolders, which is enough here, but the terrific supporting cast brings a dimension and color that makes the whole production more than agreeable. The ending is particularly satisfying, ultimately turning IFrenchman's Creek/I into a human adventure that is more than the sum of its swashbuckling parts. I--Tom Keogh/I
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 My Husband Liked It Better Than I Did! June 2, 2000
carol irvin (chesterland, OH United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
His reaction surprised me because he tends to be a bit leery of historical-romance based material. However, I really think he liked the pirate, the pirate ship, the coast of Cornwall, the war, the smuggling and that kind of thing. I liked the pirate too. He's the 36 year old son of French actor Alain Delon so it was hard to go wrong with him as a French pirate. However, the story itself really didn't work well for me, in part because the ending was changed from the book's ending. However, it was an evening's entertainment and no expense had been spared in bringing this authentically to the screen. My husband would probably give it 4 stars and he liked the woman too. So if you want to watch a historical romance on your video/dvd system that won't send your husband scurrying out of the room, this one is it.
A Pirated Version March 20, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
It would be wise of those who decide to adapt a novel into film to pay closer attention to the words adapted when they embark upon a screen version. Any similarities between this movie and DuMaurier's novel are purely coincidental. I gave this film version four stars because unlike its Joan Fontaine predecessor, it is at least more realistic and Hollywood does not intrude upon it. Other than that, the film is far removed from the novel. To begin with, the historical setting is not the Restoration, but the court of King James. There was a reason why DuMaurier set her story during the Restoration - London at that time was rich in atmosphere-it was the court of Charles II. There were excesses of appetite. Charles had a mistress for every day of the week, and the city reeked, literally, of humanity caught up in decadence beyond imagination. The two Dona's are similar in that they want to escape, but for different reasons. DuMaurier's Dona is about to turn 30. Her escape from London comes from a disgust of what she has become under the city's atmosphere. Dona needs to stop and find out who she really is. So she goes to Cornwall. In the film version, Dona escapes a London that is caught up in political turmoil. King James has left London; Catholics and Protestants are again close to Civil War. She wants to escape this and she's sick of London. This Dona wants some peace and quiet. Tara Fitzgerald makes a good heroine, but at times she is too brooding, too serious, too irritating. Her counterpart at least had a sense of humour and took pleasure in rebelling against the established gentry in Cornwall. Fleet and Dutton who play Harry St. Columb and Rockingham, respectively, are wonderful. They have researched DuMaurier's novel and bring her characters to life. Tim Dutton is wonderful as the villainously repulsive Rockingham. Fleet knows his character and plays his strengths and weaknesses well. Anthony Delon as the French pirate Jean Aubrey, is quite good. He has the easy, matter of fact, mysterious charm of DuMaurier's pirate. If you have not read Frenchman's Creek, this movie does stand on its own. The characters are well developed, the pace of the movie is good and the music compliments the scenery and characters. There is adventure, romance, villians and a damsel who can handle herself in distress. However, if you are a purist when it comes to watching a movie based upon a novel, you may be less satisfied with this version.
Pleasent Surprise January 7, 2000
I saw Frenchman's Creek on my local PBS channel and liked it very much. The sets and costuming were wonderful and the plotline kept me interested. However, the most pleasent surprise was lead actor Anthony Delon. I hadn't heard of him before this film and, unfortunately, haven't heard anything about him since. I hope to see more of his work in the future. In the meantime, I encourage you to view Frenchman's Creek. It's a great escape movie.
 Terrible! January 4, 2000
Book Lover (Orlando, Florida USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'd been waiting a long time for a remake of the story. I was never pleased with the Joan Fontaine movie, but now I'm beginning to think it has merit. This new production deviates so much from the book that it's unbelievable! I've read the book more than once and was outraged with what they've done with it. Tara Fitzgerald is not at all like Dona St. Columb and looked more like a kitchen wench than a lady. Both she and the Frenchman could have used better hair styles. Daphne DuMaurier would be appalled if she could see the liberties taken with her book. I just watched about 20 minutes at the beginning and then the ending just to see what they did with it. Changed it too. This has to be one of the worst interpretations of a book I've ever seen.
 Wauw! October 19, 1999
First class movie, that is when you like romance and action put together in one film. I personally love the 'costumed' movies and I have been looking for this tv-film for over a year, after I watched it on tv. I am glad to see that this movie has made such an impression on more people than only myself.
|
|
|
|
