Late Flowering Lust | |
---|---|
Title screen | |
Genre | Comedy drama |
Directed by | David Hinton |
Starring | |
Composer | Jim Parker |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Avril MacRory Douglas Rae |
Producer | Caroline Speed |
Cinematography | Nic Knowland |
Editor | Jon Costelloe |
Running time | 53 minutes |
Production company | Ecosse Films |
Original release | |
Network | BBC2 |
Release | 8 May 1994 (1994-05-08) |
Late Flowering Lust is a television film starring Nigel Hawthorne, Richenda Carey and Jonathan Cecil, based on the poetry of John Betjeman. Produced by Caroline Speed and directed by David Hinton, it first aired on BBC2 on 8 May 1994. The film includes performances by the dancers of Adventures in Motion Pictures, set to the music of Jim Parker.
Synopsis
When Cousin John is invited to a pre-War weekend house party in Home Counties Betjeman land, he is taken aback by the beauty of the gels. His hosts, the Faircloughs, are of the older generation and the daughter and all her friends are of the younger one. The bright young things cavort through their social litany: tennis, golf, swimming, cycling, even a pheasant shoot. Cousin John is left on the fringes of the activity, watching wistfully.
Cast
- Nigel Hawthorne as Cousin John
- Richenda Carey as Mrs Fairclough
- Jonathan Cecil as Mr Fairclough
Rosemary Allen, Scott Ambler, Matthew Bourne, Ally Fitzpatrick, Maxine Fone, Andrew George, Etta Murfitt and Simon Murphy from Adventures in Motion Pictures portray the bright young things.
Production
The production was originally planned for the stage. Nigel Hawthorne, portraying Cousin John, described the character as "an amalgam of Betjeman, myself and my father".
Late Flowering Lust was Nigel Hawthorne's idea born out of his love for the poetry of John Betjeman. It was also Hawthorne's idea, along with his partner, Trevor Bentham, to ask Adventures in Motion Pictures to collaborate on the project and for Matthew Bourne to choreograph the film.
Filming took place in the summer of 1993. The house featured is Benington Lordship, near Stevenage in Hertfordshire. The park and gardens of Benington Lordship and the 19th-century gatehouse also featured in the production.
Jim Parker's music, originally composed for the albums Banana Blush, Late Flowering Love (both 1974) and Varsity Rag (1981), was performed by the Nash Ensemble. Hawthorne recited the poetry of John Betjeman.
- Benington Lordship features in the comedy drama
- The 19th-century gatehouse
- The gardens of Benington Lordship
Home video
The film was only ever released on VHS, so it is not available on DVD.
References
Sources
- Duncan, Andrew (7–13 May 1994). ""If I'd had more courage, my life would have been totally different"". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- Lebrecht, Norman (3 February 2024). "Ruth Leon recommends... Late Flowering Lust – John Betjeman and Matthew Bourne". Slipped Disc. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- "Vintage Adventures: Late Flowering Lust". New Adventures. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2025.