England, My England
In 1960s, a British playwright attempts to reconstruct the life of real life 17th century English composer Henry Purcell even though little is known about him. Purcell's life is reenacted and his music performed.
- Runtime
- 2h 33m
- Released
- 1995
- Country
- United Kingdom
Details
Release year: 1995
Storyline
In 1960s, a British playwright attempts to reconstruct the life of real life 17th century English composer Henry Purcell even though little is known about him. Purcell's life is reenacted and his music performed.
Top credits
Simon Callow — Charles II
Michael Ball — Henry Purcell
Rebecca Front — Mary II
Lucy Speed — Nell Gwyn
Did you know
• The lines that Dryden recites ("Be judge yourself, I'll bring it to the test: / Which is the basest creature, man or beast? / Birds feed on birds, beasts on each other prey, / But savage man alone does man betray") are not by John Dryden but by his erstwhile patron the Earl of Rochester, with whom he had a bitter falling-out.
• "The Marriage of Bacchus" that Purcell dislikes is an opera by French composer Robert Cambert titled: "Ariadne ou Le Mariage de Bacchus". It was adapted for the London stage by Louis Grabu in 1674. At the time, Grabu was Master of the King's Musik.
• When Pepys, the Purcells, and Pelham are climbing the stairs to view the fire, Pepys is speaking lines from his diary entry of 2 September 1666.
User reviews
A Very Absorbing Biopic of one of England's Greatest and Mosr Gifted Composers
To Touch The Nerve Of What Is Truly English, Listen To Tony Palmer
brilliant
Technical specs
- Color
- Color
