Northanger Abbey (1987 film)

Northanger Abbey is a 1987 made-for-television film adaptation of Jane Austen's 1817 novel Northanger Abbey, and was originally broadcast on the A&E Network and the BBC on 15 February 1987.[2][3] It is part of the Screen Two anthology series.[4]

Northanger Abbey
Katharine Schlesinger & Peter Firth
GenreCostume drama
Based onNorthanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Screenplay byMaggie Wadey
Directed byGiles Foster
StarringKatharine Schlesinger
Peter Firth
Robert Hardy
Googie Withers
Theme music composerIlona Sekacz
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1
Production
ProducerLouis Marks
CinematographyNat Crosby
Running time88 minutes
Release
Original networkBBC
Original release15 February 1987 (1987-02-15)[1]

Plot

The film is set in the late 18th century, when Jane Austen wrote the novel although it was published after her death in 1817. Northanger Abbey is the story of a young woman, Catherine Morland, who is invited to Bath, Somerset, with family friends, the Allens; they hope that the waters at Bath will help Mr. Allen's gout. Catherine (called "Cathy" by her many younger siblings) is a 17-year-old young lady who has been quite sheltered all her life, escaping only by reading Gothic novels, and so is delighted to go to Bath. Mrs. Allen introduces Catherine to the Thorpe family, including an older girl, Isabella, who befriends Catherine. The girls have bonded over their love of similar novels when their brothers arrive. James (Catherine's brother) falls in love with Isabella, who is a hardened flirt. Likewise, John (Isabella's brother and James's friend) pursues Catherine, who does not like John nearly as much as John likes himself.

Catherine is falling in love with a quirky 26-year-old clergyman, Henry Tilney, whom she met at a dance. She befriends Henry's sister, Eleanor, and goes on many outings with the two of them, after their brother Frederick Tilney comes to Bath. Isabella, having learned that James (to whom she is now engaged) is poor, begins to flirt with Frederick and ultimately ends her engagement with James. Eleanor invites Catherine to stay with her at the Tilneys' home, Northanger Abbey.

Catherine accepts the invitation with pleasure, although she imagines that the Abbey will be rather like one of the gloomy castles in her books. Catherine is at first welcomed by General Tilney (Henry's father), who has been bragged to by John Thorpe that Catherine (whom John thinks is in love with him) is an heiress. When the General realizes that Catherine is not rich, however, he sends her packing. Once back at home, Catherine is unhappy, missing Henry and disillusioned about her precious Gothic novels. Henry appears and proposes, however, and the story ends happily.

Cast

References
  1. "Screen Two: Northanger Abbey". 15 February 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. "Northanger Abbey (1987)". BFI. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019.
  3. Wheatley, Helen (10 April 2006). Gothic Television. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-7149-2 – via Google Books.
  4. "BFI Screenonline: Northanger Abbey (1987)". screenonline.org.uk.


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