I Capture the Castle (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = I Capture the Castle

| image = I capture the castle ver2.jpg

| caption = Original UK quad format film poster

| director = Tim Fywell

| producer = David ParfittIn film credits.

| screenplay = Heidi Thomas

| based_on = {{based on|I Capture the Castle|Dodie Smith}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{ubl|Romola Garai|Rose Byrne|Bill Nighy|Henry Thomas|Marc Blucas|Tara Fitzgerald|Henry Cavill|Joe Sowerbutts}}

| music = Dario Marianelli

| cinematography = Richard Greatrex

| editing = Roy Sharman

| studio = {{ubl|Distant Horizon|BBC Films|Trademark Films}}

| distributor = Momentum Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2003|05|09|df=yes}}

| runtime = 117 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget = $8 million

| gross = $6.6 million

}}

I Capture the Castle is a 2003 British romantic comedy film directed by Tim Fywell. It is based on the 1948 novel of the same name by Dodie Smith, with the screenplay written by Heidi Thomas. The film was released in the UK on 9 May 2003.

Romola Garai played the lead role of Cassandra Mortmain alongside Bill Nighy, Rose Byrne and Tara Fitzgerald.

Synopsis

The Mortmain family live in genteel poverty in a decaying English castle, which family patriarch James Mortmain leased years ago to cure his writers' block. James hasn't written anything in 12 years, since the spectacular success of his first novel. The film is narrated by his daughter, 17 year-old Cassandra Mortmain, who develops her writing ability by capturing life in the castle in her journal. Her older sister Rose is beautiful and desires above all to marry for money and escape poverty. Their Bohemian stepmother, Topaz, is an ex-model who sunbathes in the nude. The family is helped by Stephen, the son of the family's former maid, who harbors unrequited romantic feelings for Cassandra.

The family suddenly encounters their new, wealthy American landlord, Simon Cotton, and his brother, Neil. Simon is the heir to his English father's fortune and title. Rose becomes determined to marry Simon, but flirts awkwardly and openly with him when they return for a visit and seemingly ruins her chances.

When the family learns of the death of a wealthy relative, Rose and Cassandra go to London and find they've been left a pair of exotic but unattractive fur coats. They return home to Suffolk and encounter Simon and Neil on the platform and attempt to hide, which amuses the brothers and leads to the families becoming good friends.

With Cassandra and Topaz's help, Rose attracts Simon and he proposes, which incenses Neil, who tells Cassandra that Rose is a gold digger. Rose goes to London with Simon, Topaz and his mother and receives a fashionable makeover and a new wardrobe. She writes to Cassandra, admitting feeling homesick, and listing the many luxuries she's received since her engagement. This alarms Cassandra, as Rose had promised she was truly in love with Simon. Topaz, meanwhile, has begun an affair with an art collector in London.

Simon comes to visit and spends an evening alone with Cassandra. They share a romantic moment and kiss. Cassandra finds herself in love with Simon and is forced to tell Stephen that she doesn't reciprocate his feelings. Heartbroken, Stephen goes to London to pursue a modeling career.

Cassandra goes to London to visit Rose and discovers the engagement has estranged Simon and Neil. Rose is indeed caught up in her fiance's wealth and nonchalantly admits to Cassandra that she isn't in love with Simon but still intends to marry him. The sisters argue, and Rose realizes that Cassandra is in love with Simon.

Cassandra returns home and traps her father in a medieval tower to help him recover his writer's block. After several days, he confesses his immense guilt and grief over the death of his wife and the two reconcile. He slowly begins to write again, and Topaz returns to him.

Simon comes to the castle to tell Cassandra that Rose has vanished. Together, they search for her and soon discover her and Neil in a seaside hotel together. It becomes clear that Rose and Neil had loved each other from the start, but Rose pursued Simon for his money. With the Cotton family's clear disapproval, Rose and Neil marry. Weeks later, Simon approaches Cassandra and invites her to come to America with him. She declines, knowing he still loves Rose, and writes in the final pages of her journal that she knows she will love again some day.

Production

Parts of the film were shot in Laxey film studio on the Isle of Man. Manorbier Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, supplied exteriors for the castle, and Eltham Palace in London some interiors.

Main cast

{{cast listing|

Romola Garai as Cassandra Mortmain
Henry Thomas as Simon Cotton
Rose Byrne as Rose Mortmain
Bill Nighy as James Mortmain
Tara Fitzgerald as Topaz Mortmain
Marc Blucas as Neil Cotton
Henry Cavill as Stephen Colley
Sinéad Cusack as Elspeth Cotton
Joe Sowerbutts as Thomas Mortmain
James Faulkner as Aubrey Fox-Cotton
Sarah Woodward as Leda Fox-Cotton
David Bamber as the Vicar
Helena Little as Mother

}}

Reception

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|78|6.7|85|A handsome and charming adaptation of the novel.}}{{cite web |title = I Capture the Castle |url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_capture_the_castle/ |publisher = Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate = September 29, 2023}}