Main Cast: Embeth Davidtz, Ben Chaplin, Tom Bell, Gemma Jones, James Purefoy
Release Year: 1995
Country: UK/US
Run Time: 116 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Based on the novel by H.E. Bates, this period drama stars Embeth Davidtz as Bella Ford, a woman living in rural England during the Victorian era. Bella fell victim to Arch Wilson (Greg Wise), a unprincipled man who claimed to be from the nearby village. He seduced her only to vanish without a trace when she became pregnant. When she is outcast after her child is stillborn, a kindly villager named Ben Wainwright (Tom Bell) allows her to stay with his family in exchange for helping with the chores. However, the presence of a young and beautiful woman in the house creates a certain amount of tension between Ben, his wife (Gemma Jones), and sons Jedd (James Purefoy), a soldier; Matty (Kent Anderson), a shoemaker; and Con (Ben Chaplin), a homebody and social misfit. Con takes a shine to Bella and eventually proposes marriage; Bella accepts, but matters become complicated when she discovers that the dastardly Arch has returned to the village. Ismail Merchant served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Greg Wise - Arch Wilson; Richard Hope - Squire Wyman; Tom Marshall - Prison Warden; Tim Preece - Preacher; Frederick Warder - Captain Rogers; Richard Hicks - Rowing Youth; Arthur Kelly - Game Keeper; Paddy Ward - Tom; David Neal - Mitchy Mitchell; David Belcher - Man in Restaurant; Mark Bazeley - Man in Restaurant; Colin Prockter - Man in Pub; Colin Mayes - Seaman; Stephen Frost - Man in Restaurant; Daphne Neville - Mrs. Mitchell; Kenneth Anderson - Matty Wainwright; Rupert Bates - Prison Warder; Charles De'ath - Billy Swaine; Dominic Gover - Rowing Youth; Kate Hamblyn - Harvest Girl; Mark Heal - Clerk at Shoe Factory; Alan Perrin - Ticket Clerk; Tim Perrin - Hangman; Julian Protheroe - Bowler-Hatted Man; Mark Whelehan - Assistant Hangman
Credit
Roy Stannard - Art Director, Caroline Smith - Art Director, Donald Rosenfeld - Associate Producer, Kathleen Mackie - Casting, Phoebe Degaye - Costume Designer, Christopher Menaul - Director, Chris Wimble - Editor, Paul Bradley - Executive Producer, Ismail Merchant - Executive Producer, Zbigniew Preisner - Composer (Music Score), Paul Bradley - Musical Direction/Supervision, Zbigniew Preisner - Songwriter, Bruno Santini - Production Designer, Chris Robilliard - Production Designer, Peter Sova - Cinematographer, Christopher Neame - Producer, Henry Herbert - Producer, Jill Quertier - Set Designer, Christopher Neame - Screenwriter, H.E. Bates - Book Author
