With A Heart Even More Your Own

So I have to say, what was Masterpiece Theatre thinking when they cut out scenes from the movie!?! I mean, for real, are you kidding me? They were mostly scenes where you see that Captain Wentworth (or Fredrick as I call him in my mind) was revealing just how very much he was in love with Anne. Argh! So after we finished watching Masterpiece's version, my friends and I brought out the British version and watched all of the scenes that they cut out, as well as the ending once again. "Are you . . . Are you certain?" "I thought you'd like to see your wedding present." La, I love the ending. As I've said before (on May 22 and June 5 of 2007) Rupert Penry-Jones is so dreamy. He truly is "sex on legs." If you don't know what that means, you need to watch the movie! I was worried that the version that comes out to buy tomorrow was going to be the edited version, so I did a little research. I checked out amazon.co.uk to see how long their version was, then I checked out amazon.com and then I checked out tvguide.com and compared the running lengths. It would seem that both Amazon versions are 93 minutes while the tv guide said that Masterpiece's version tonight was 90 minutes (that included the intro). So I believe we can safely buy a copy and not worry about missing scenes. Whew! I thought that you'd also like to read a quote from the Masterpiece Theatre newsletter:

"All around great casting...Cold colours, unhelpful gossip and perpetual driving rain can't quite extinguish Anne's passion, while Rupert Penry-Jones smoulders as convincingly as if steam was rising from within his frock coat...excellent dramatization..." -- Daily Telegraph (London)

And then, some wonderful quotes from the author herself (including the wonderful letter in full):

"I would never suppose that true constancy is known only by women, but the one claim I shall make for my own sex is that we love longest,
when all hope is gone." -- Anne Elliot

“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in

F. W.

“I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.”

If only I could receive such a letter. *sigh* Here is A truly wonderful commentary on this fabulous version of Persuasion. (aka a Persuasion picspam). Below are my favorite pictures/scenes from the movie. Enjoy!

It starts with undisguised, lustful and longing stares.



Then a friend betrays a confidence. Not a bad one though. Just that he has talked of "Miss Anne Elliot" before.



A fateful accident leads them to a touching realization.



Talking with a friend reveals a freedom that was much longed and hoped for.



Misinformed? . . . Utterly? Need I say more?



True love conquers all! (As well it should!)