Cold Comfort Farm

Director: John Schlesinger John Schlesinger

Overview

"This sophisticated British comedy gets a serviceable presentation on DVD. Cold Comfort Farm has been given a widescreen transfer to disc in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1; the image is letterboxed on convention televisions, and enhanced for 16 x 9 playback on widescreen monitors. The original English-language soundtrack is mastered in Dolby Digital Surround, as is an alternate Spanish-language track; optional French subtitles are also included. The film's original theatrical trailer has been added as a bonus."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/01/2003
UPC:	0025192264924
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	PG
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:45:00
Sales rank:	34,041

Special Features

Closed Caption; [None specified]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kate Beckinsale	Flora Poste
Joanna Lumley	Mrs. Smiling
Ian McKellen	Amos Starkadder
Rufus Sewell	Seth
Stephen Fry	Mybug
Eileen Atkins	Judith Starkadder
Sheila Burrell	Ada Doom
Freddie Jones	Adam Lambsbreath
Maria Miles	Elfine
Ivan Kaye	Reuben
Rupert Penry-Jones	Dick Hawk-Monitor
Jeremy Peters	Urk
Christopher Bowen	Charles Fairford
Miriam Margolyes	Mrs. Beetle
Louise Rea	Meriam Beetle
Sophie Revell	Rennet
Angela Thorne	Mrs. Hawk-Monitor
Tim Myers	Mr. Hawk-Monitor
Harry Ditson	Earl P. Neck
Trevor Baxter	Sneller
Frederick Jaeger	Doctor Adolf Mudel
Pat Keen	Aunt Gwen
Robert James	Mr. McKnag
William Masson	Bikki
Susannah Morley	Mrs. Murther
Richard Bebb	Hawk-Monitor Butler
William Osborne	Coiffeur
Basil Hoskins	Couturier
Allison Roberts	Girl in Hayloft
Ninka Scott	Tea Shop Waitress
Myfanwy Hill	Young Ada Doom

Technical Credits

Malcolm Bradbury

John Schlesinger	Director
Malcolm Bradbury	Screenwriter
Richard Broke	Executive Producer
Noel Davis	Casting
Mike Kelt	Special Effects
Jeremy King	Special Effects
Antony Root	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Cold Comfort Farm is a welcome late-career success from the inconsistent John Schlesinger, who got off to a smashing start in the '60s with Billy Liar, Darling, Far From the Madding Crowd, and Midnight Cowboy, only to stumble through the next several decades with less memorable work. Stella Gibbons' novel is replete with colorful characters and wacky situations, but it would be too easy to give over the show to the country cousins. Fortunately, Schlesinger and his collaborators found their Flora in Kate Beckinsale, a brilliant actress whose only previous film role of note was that of Hero in Much Ado About Nothing. Beckinsale makes Flora a fascinating combination of naïveté and bossiness. She is oblivious to the darker natures of her country relatives and their neighbors, but she is also completely determined to improve their lives. (Perhaps the contradictions actually feed off one another.) While Flora bustles about, straightening, dusting, and re-arranging, her subjects act bewildered, amused, put-upon, and relieved that someone besides the selfish Ada Doom is in charge. Of all the scenery chewers in this cast of first-rate performers, no one masticates as loudly and as amusingly as Ian McKellen as the Reverend Amos Starkadder. The film is a delight from start to predictable finish. Fans of the French hit Amelie may find that their heroine from that film has a charming predecessor in Flora Poste.