Though it feels autobiographical, there's nothing of Dodie Smith's real life in it. After writing many successful plays including 'Dear Octopus', it was her first novel, written in the US in 1948 ('One Hundred and One Dalmations' came eight years later). The screenplay is by Heidi Thomas.
The family is great, particularly Romola Garai and Bill Nighy but good too are Rose Byrne, Tara Fitzgerald and Joe Sowerbutts; with Henry Cavill as the faithful worker. Then the visiting Americans are Henry Thomas and Marc Blucas and Sinead Cusack.
It has a poignant feel to it, fuelled by a particularly good Dario Marianelli score; and shot by Richard Greatrex and edited by Roy Sharman. Fywell works almost exclusively on British TV.
The castle itself is on the Isle of Man; eagle-eyed Q correctly identifies the village as Turville.
Very successful. I can hear Romola though saying 'Christ I'm cold! I wish I'd never agreed to this sodding film now!'
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