Masterpiece Theatre: Room With a View (2007)

Made for Britain’s ITV network, this Masterpiece presentation of A Room with a View introduces a fuller version of E.M Forster's 1908 novel. If it isn't as romantic as Merchant Ivory's 1985 film--with that picturesque kiss at the end--Nicholas Renton's adaptation offers its own unique charms. For one, it provides a look at the self-possessed woman Lucy Honeychurch (Elaine Cassidy, Felicia's Journey) a decade after her Italian sojourn. The action alternates, somewhat confusingly, between 1912 and 1922. In both cases, Lucy travels from Surrey to Florence. On the first trip, she and her companion, Miss Bartlett (a fidgety Sophie Thompson) are both taken aback by the left-leaning Mr. Emerson (Timothy Spall) and his railway clerk son, George (Rafe Spall). Not only are the men outspoken in their views, but George is Lucy's social inferior. Despite the obvious attraction between them, she accepts a proposal from the bookish Cecil Vyse (Laurence Fox, giving a more sympathetic performance than Daniel Day-Lewis). For the tragic ending, screenwriter Andrew Davies (Bleak House) draws on notes the author left behind, but didn’t incorporate into his book. Ideally, Davies should've turned to Forster's more upbeat 1958 epilogue A View without a Room. Further, it takes awhile to warm up to the central character (previously portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter), though Cassidy ultimately rises to the occasion--especially in the post-war sequences. It's unfortunate Davies didn’t support her efforts with stronger material. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Amazon.com

Could have been so much better...

I didn't hate this version of Room With a View. Yes, I have seen the Merchant Ivory version. Yes, I have read the book. Although I thought the cast of the Merchant Ivory production was magnificent, I actually like a great deal of the cast in this adaptation as well, so I was prepared to view this with an open mind and not hate it instantly because it wasn't Merchant Ivory. I have seen several of this cast (Cassidy, Cusak, Thompson, Spall) in other productions and thought they were wonderful. The aspects of this production I found most disappointing were the script and direction. I found the dialogue to be lackluster, and the interpretation of some of the characters (primarily Cecil) just plain dull. I have admired some of Davies' adaptations in the past, but his more recent works seem to have an underlying conceit in them that I find distasteful, as though he would deign to "improve" the works of the authors he is adapting. Davies is, indeed a gifted and talented man, but is he really so lofty that he feels capable of enhancing Austen, Forster, and Waugh? He had a wonderful cast of people to work with for this adaptation, but their performances were never going to reach the stellar level they were capable of when the script they were given to work with was second rate. I know there was a time limitation, but the story was just diluted and unnecessary additions were made (the additional meeting with the gig driver, George's death, etc)that seemed to serve no purpose other than to needlessly outrage the audience. I don't understand why Davies feels the need to shock a response out of his audience, rather than impress them with quality. That cheapens the whole production. This production wasn't awful, but if could have been so much better. June 8, 2008

Lovely film

This is a lovely film. No, it's not perfect, and yes, it deviates somewhat from the book, but that doesn't necessarily prevent you from enjoying it. The acting, the sets, characterization, everything was wonderful. It's useless to try to compare everything to previous adaptations - just take it for what it is. April 26, 2008

breath of fresh air

A number of reviewers here tend to, dare I use that pesky word, CLING to the M/I version as if it were some sort of Rosetta Stone. What a relief to finally see a film adaptation of "Room With A View" which is not seen through rose colored glasses and dripping in gossamer. Every M/I film has the same prettified, romanticized, Hollywoodized take on period pieces. The Andrew Davies version is both much closer to the book in spirit than the M/I version and yet shakes it up in a way that beautifully brings all the social, historical and sexual issues into play. The actors look and behave like real people with real dimension instead of character archtypes as in the M/I version. Casting the father and son team of Timothy and Rafe Spall is a stroke of genius. Elaine Cassidy's take on Lucy's inner turmoil and longing is spot on and all the supporting roles are seamless. All this fuss and moaning about the endng is really a tempest in a teacup. The ending is startling, yet innovative, provocative and is based on Forster's own musings. It does exactly what a film adaption should do - adapt! Anyone who is interested in fine filmmaking and this great literary classic should snap up this version. April 22, 2008

I've seen better

Though I claim A Room With a View as one of my favorite novels, I would never expect a movie to be exactly dead on. And yet, even with lowered expectations, I was highly disappointed in Andrew Davies' adaptation. Not only are the characters somewhat unbelievable (the acting isn't exactly terrible, the writing just seems a bit dodgy), but it turned one of my favorite "Yes! Life is to be lived!" stories into something utterly depressing.

The plot only roughly keeps to Forster's original, the characters are far from being similar and the ending was absolutely terrible.

It's an ok movie if you're out for entertainment, but if you're looking for a good adaptation of a great book, stick with the James Ivory version with Helena Bonham Carter instead. It's much much better. April 22, 2008

Don't bother with this version

Skip this version.
It is far, far better to get/see the Bonham Carter, Daniel Day Lewis, etc. version. Why the director had to sledge hammer us with his interpretation of the future, when anyone who enjoyed the book could experience the subtleties of the Carter/Lewis version. It is practically a travesty. April 18, 2008

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