American Friends

Synopsis

Feature film adapted by Michael Palin from the travel diaries of his greatgrandfather. Francis Ashby, a fellow of Oxford College, falls in love with Elinor, an American girl of 17, while on a walking holiday in Switzerland. Back in Oxford, Elinor becomes pregnant by Sykes, a colleague of Ashby and Ashby turns down the offer of college presidency to marry her. A recurring motif is a college production of King Lear. In the final Lear scene a storm interrupts the play (during the storm scene).

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1991

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Amateur theatre

Credits

Director

Tristram Powell

Producer

Patrick Cassavetti; Steve Abbott

Cinematographer

Philip Bonham-Carter

Screenplay

Michael Palin; Tristram Powell

Music

Georges Delerue

Art Direction

Chris Townsend

Cast

Alfred Molina
Jo Stone-Fewings
Michael Palin
Trini Alvarado

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Name

British Screen

Name

Mayday Productions

Name

Millennium Films

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Distributor (Sale)

 

Available from retail outlets