American Friends

Last updated

American Friends
American Friends (cover).jpg
Directed by Tristram Powell
Written by Michael Palin
Tristram Powell
Produced by Steve Abbott
Patrick Cassavetti
Starring
Cinematography Philip Bonham-Carter
Edited by George Akers
Music by Georges Delerue
Production
companies
Prominent Features
British Screen Productions
BBC
Distributed by Palace Pictures
Release dates
  • 22 March 1991 (1991-03-22)(UK)
  • 21 November 1991 (1991-11-21)(Australia)
  • April 1993 (1993-04)(US)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£2.5 million [1]
Box office$23,034 (US) [2]
£141,096 (UK) [1]

American Friends is a 1991 British film starring Michael Palin. It was written by Palin and its director, Tristram Powell.

Contents

Plot

Palin plays Francis Ashby, a senior Oxford professor on holiday in the Swiss Alps in 1861. There he meets the American Caroline Hartley (Connie Booth) and her 18-year-old ward Elinor (Trini Alvarado). Ashby is drawn to them both, particularly Elinor, but is rather surprised when they arrive in Oxford and rent a house. Women are not allowed in the college, nor are fellows allowed to marry, which puts him in an embarrassing situation. Ashby's rival for the post of college president, Oliver Syme (Alfred Molina), takes full advantage of this to try to discredit Ashby.

Inspiration

The plot was based on a real-life incident involving Palin's great-grandfather, Edward Palin.

Cast

Awards

The film won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Best film/screenplay.

Discography

The CD soundtrack composed by Georges Delerue is available on Music Box Records label. [3]

Reference list

  1. 1 2 "Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing" (PDF). British Film Institute. 2005. p. 19.
  2. "American Friends (1993) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. http://www.musicbox-records.com/en/53-american-friends.html website

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