England, My England (1995)
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8% want to see it
(85 ratings)
This British biopic attempts to chronicle the life of 17th-century tunesmith Henry Purcell. The filmmakers have had to do much speculating about Britain's first great composer, as little is known about his life back then. It is known that Purcell had been a chorister as a child and then became… More This British biopic attempts to chronicle the life of 17th-century tunesmith Henry Purcell. The filmmakers have had to do much speculating about Britain's first great composer, as little is known about his life back then. It is known that Purcell had been a chorister as a child and then became the court composer for three kings: Charles, James and William. Before his death at age 37, Purcell penned over 1,000 songs and sired a few children, most of whom died at birth. While little is actually known of Purcell, the film successfully recreates the tumultuous era in which he lived. Also running parallel to Purcell's story is a set in the 1960s when English society and values seemed to be rapidly eroding, just as they were in the composer's time. The story concerns a playwright's attempts to research the life of Purcell for his next play. In the last part of the film, several lavish musical numbers from Purcell's vast repertoire are presented. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Tony Palmer
- Written By
- John Osborne, Charles Wood
- Genres
- Documentary, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts
Unrated,
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Cast
- The Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists
- Susan Graham
- Stephen Varcoe
- Lynne Dawson
- Nancy Argenta
- James Bowman
- Michael Chance
- Paul Agnew
- Peter Harvey
- Robert Johnston
- Teresa Shaw
- Jennifer Smith
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Vernon Dobtcheff
as Spratt
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John Fortune
as Clarendon
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Constantine Gregory
as Wharton
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Murray Melvin
as Shaftesbury
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Patricia Quinn
as Elizabeth Purcell
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Corin Redgrave
as William
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Terence Rigby
as Cooke
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John Shrapnel
as Pepys
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Lucy Speed
as Nell
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Robert Stephens
as Dryden
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Brook Williams
as Priest
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Peter Woodthorpe
as Kiffen
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Simon Callow
as Charles II
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John Hibbs
as Blacksmith
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James Hicks
as Blow
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Bill Kenwright
as Bill
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Michael Ball
as Harry Purcell
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Guy Henry
as James
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Bernard Padden
as Blackwell
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James Saxon
as Vyner
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David Thomas
as Gostling
- David Joseph
-
Letitia Dean
as Barbara
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Rebecca Front
as Mary
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Edward Michie
as Young Harry
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Rebecca Tremain
as Catherine
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Nina Young
as Frances
- Antonia de Sancha
-
Simon Flind
as Draghi
