Starring: Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington, Virginia McKenna, Jennifer Ehle, Tara Fitzgerald

Directed by: Peter Hall

The Channel 4 [BBC] adaptation of Mary Wesley's novel. It is August 1939 and Helena (Felicity Kendal) and Richard (Paul Eddington) Cuthbertson and their young niece, Sophy (Rebecca Hall), are preparing for the annual visit to Cornwall of Richard's other nephews and nieces – Oliver (Toby Stephens), Calypso (Jennifer Ehle), Polly (Tara Fitzgerald) and Walter. For Sophy this youthful invasion is the highpoint of her year. An orphan, Sophy is resented by her aunt, and has little in common with her invalid uncle, who lost a leg in the trenches. Once they are together the cousins are full of talk about the war.

But they are all on holiday and decide to run the "Terror Run" – a fearless night-time dash along the cliff path, timed by the adults from the safety of the camomile lawn above the cliff. For the first time Sophy is old enough to join in. Helena and Richard invite Max and Monika Erstweiler – Austrian refugees staying locally, to the ritual dinner before the "Terror Run". Max is a renowned classical violinist, and he and Monika believe their only son is in a concentration camp. The night is brought abruptly to an end by the news from Polly and Walter's father that the hospital where he is a surgeon is about to be evacuated. War must be imminent...


viewer's comments:

- opens your eyes
Jennifer Ehle is certainly attractive and shows a lot more in this epic than in her later Jane Austen roles. But for an example of dark and sultry pouting look no further than Tara Fitzgerald. This production also features everyones 1970's favourite pin-up Felicty Kendal, but she's playing an old woman here folks!


- Fun , Touching , Sexy And Grrreeeeaaaaaatttt!
Let's get the obvious out of the way first , Jennifer Ehle is GORGEOUS , so excuse me if i seem biased! Set during the war , a family with a strange besotment with the smell of their yard (?) are thrown in to a sea of love , hate and torrid affairs! The acting is absoloutely priceless throughout with everyone doing a marvellous job! Only problem is , where can i get it on VHS or DVD? A fantastic drama , a treat for all!



Paul Eddington .... Richard
Claire Bloom .... Sophy
Rosemary Harris .... Calypso
Richard Johnson (I) .... Oliver
Virginia McKenna .... Polly
Rebecca Hall (I) .... Young Sophy
Jennifer Ehle .... Young Calypso
Tara Fitzgerald .... Young Polly
Toby Stephens .... Young Oliver
Felicity Kendal .... Helena
Vivienne Ritchie .... Iris
Nicholas Le Prevost .... Hector/Hamish
Trudy Weiss .... Monika
Richard Syms .... Vicar

Runtime: 262 min
Country: Australia / UK
Language: English
Colour