I waited years for this to get made, I always assumed that due to the success of the Ustinov version, this would always follow, quickly. Wrong, it took a good few years, I'm sure budget restraints were the issue. Boy was it worth the wait, it's a stunning production, it's beautifully written, gloriously acted and visually jaw dropping.
Initially I couldn't get over how good the casting was, Emma Griffiths Malin had an almost passionate Latin look to her, JJ Feild was very hunky and perfect for Doyle, then came Linnet Ridgeway, I love Emily Blunt, but she was not right for this role, she didn't fit somehow, that was really my only gripe of the production, and it was only a miner. The rest of the cast was flawless, Frances de la tour, Barbara Flynn, Daisy Donovan etc, and I thought a stunning performance from Zoe Telford.
It had an epic feel to it, but it was never overdone, it stayed remarkably true to the book, although some characters were omitted, sadly no Bowers.
The actual shooting of Simon scene I thought was very well done, you could sense the mood shift when Jacqui enters singing 'love is the sweetest thing,' very well done and directed.
The costumes were incredible, how sad we don't get to see much of Zoe Telford's red costume in the scene when Jacqui rushes in late for dinner, from a distance it looks stunning, she has a red dress and fantastic red head gear, out of interest Francesca Annis wore it in Partners in Crime.
The music is outstanding and helps build tension in the right places, it works really well, the scenery of course is magical, they couldn't fail could they.
The conclusion is hugely satisfying, I love how they did it, so dramatic, exactly as it was written, and the use of flashbacks was brilliant.
All in all a perfect adaptation, as good as Ustinov's. 10/10
