England, My England (1995)
Movie Info
This British biopic attempts to chronicle the life of 17th-century tunesmith Henry Purcell. The filmmakers have had to do much speculating about Britain's first great composer, as little is known about his life back then. It is known that Purcell had been a chorister as a child and then became the court composer for three kings: Charles, James and William. Before his death at age 37, Purcell penned over 1,000 songs and sired a few children, most of whom died at birth. While little is actually known of Purcell, the film successfully recreates the tumultuous era in which he lived. Also running parallel to Purcell's story is a set in the 1960s when English society and values seemed to be rapidly eroding, just as they were in the composer's time. The story concerns a playwright's attempts to research the life of Purcell for his next play. In the last part of the film, several lavish musical numbers from Purcell's vast repertoire are presented. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Cast
Simon Callow
as Charles II
as Charles II
Michael Ball
as Harry Purcell
as Harry Purcell
Rebecca Front
as Mary
as Mary

Lucy Speed
as Nell
as Nell
Letitia Dean
as Barbara
as Barbara
Nina Young
as Frances
as Frances
John Shrapnel
as Pepys
as Pepys
Robert Stephens
as Dryden
as Dryden
Terence Rigby
as Cooke
as Cooke

Bill Kenwright
as Bill
as Bill
Murray Melvin
as Shaftesbury
as Shaftesbury
Corin Redgrave
as William
as William

John Fortune
as Clarendon
as Clarendon
Guy Henry
as James
as James
Peter Woodthorpe
as Kiffen
as Kiffen

Edward Michie
as Young Harry
as Young Harry

Constantine Gregory
as Wharton
as Wharton

Rebecca Tremain
as Catherine
as Catherine
Vernon Dobtcheff
as Spratt
as Spratt
Patricia Quinn
as Elizabeth Purcell
as Elizabeth Purcell

David Thomas
as Gostling
as Gostling

James Saxon
as Vyner
as Vyner

Bernard Padden
as Blackwell
as Blackwell

Simon Flind
as Draghi
as Draghi
Brook Williams
as Priest
as Priest

James Hicks
as Blow
as Blow

John Hibbs
as Blacksmith
as Blacksmith
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