I Capture the Castle

Well, another period costumed piece. "I Capture the Castle" is a novel by Dodie Smith, an English novelist and playwright. The movie stays true to the popular book (by all accounts of the dedicated fans) with only a tad of improvisied change. The book was written in 1948 and this is the first time it was ever made into a movie, and a wonderful one at that.

The movie stars Tara Fitzgerald as the nudist artsy stepmom married to Bill Nighy a writer who has suffered from writer's block for a long time. He is waiting for that spark to write another successful novel after his first one was such a hit years earlier.

The family consisits of two teenage daughters and a son, who are living in a run down rented castle and are extremely poor. The beginning of the movie has much humor (including a play on their last name Mortmain) and their dire and dreary situation.

The beginning of the movie has some flashbacks as to how they ended up in this situation. Very sad indeed and then how their prior situation put their father in this writer's block. Basically, he never got over the death of his first wife and has developed problems which affect everyone from his denial over the years.

The story focuses on 17 year old Cassandra, the younger of the two girls. She is sensible, plain, and simple, but is wise yet naive at the same time. Rose her older sister is beautiful and wants a way out of these horrid living conditions.

Along comes the new owners of the castle who show up to collect the rent long past due. Rose and Cassandra think that romance with the new owners will take them away from their dire situation. They are very funny and very naive at the same time. The humor lies in the comparisons of weathly/rich, American/British, manners, and culture.

It was very evident that Rose only wanted material things, the things she did not have while living a Bohemian life at the castle. She thought she could aquire this through marriage to someone she did not actually love. Rose should have read Madame Bovary first. (Another movie and book I recommend.)

But things don't always work out the way they imagine and this is where the reality comes in as Cassandra wrestles with her own growing up and trying to do what is right. Only she does not and the young man who has loved her since childhood takes the issue into his own hands then speaks the truth to who needs to know. I thought this was an incredibly brave thing he did, because he truly loved Cassandra and did not want to see her suffer, although she did not love him in that way.

Cassandra also has to deal with her Dad and helps him face his problems head on. This was the emotionally dark part of the movie and is very moving since this is what has affected them all over the years.

In the end, Cassandra knows what she wants but she takes the time for herself first before making any commitments to anyone.

The book and the movie are both great. Read the book first before you see the movie.
I recommend both to all young people who need to see another young adult trying to figure out life, love, while keeping a firm foot on the ground, emotions in their right place and planning goals for their future.

My favorite scenes:
When the new owners arrive at the castle.

When Rose and Cassandra find out they have inherited something from their aunt and visit the big city to find out what it is and what happens after that.

When Rose "entertains" the family and guests in the castle living room with her piano playing trying to impress Neil.

When the door opens at the Cotton's estate for the dinner guests and Rose is wearing the lovely gown Topaz made just for her to make an impression.

This was my favorite though -- A long shot of the castle and Mr. Mortmain is walking toward it and under his arm, carrying his typewriter just incase he gets that "sprark" to start his new novel at any moment at anywhere.

When Cassandra and her brother move Mr. Mortmain out of the castle to get his creative juices flowing.

Dodie Smith (1896-1990) also wrote "101 Dalmations".

More on Dodie Smith - at her official site.

I Capture the Castle at IMDB