Miss Potter (2006)

Director:

Chris Noonan

Writer (WGA):

Richard Maltby Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

5 January 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The life of Beatrix Potter is the most enchanting tale of all.

Plot:

The story of Beatrix Potter, the author of the beloved and best-selling children's book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", and her struggle for love, happiness and success.

Plot Keywords:

Storytelling | 1910s | Christmas Party | Secret Engagement | Drawing

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. May 17	4:15 PM	SHOW
Tue. May 20	6:25 AM	SHOW

Cast

Renée Zellweger	...	Beatrix Potter
Ewan McGregor	...	Norman Warne
Emily Watson	...	Millie Warne
Barbara Flynn	...	Helen Potter
Bill Paterson	...	Rupert Potter
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Miss Wiggin
Lloyd Owen	...	William Heelis
Anton Lesser	...	Harold Warne
David Bamber	...	Fruing Warne
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Warne
Patricia Kerrigan	...	Fiona
Lucy Boynton	...	Young Beatrix
Oliver Jenkins	...	Young Bertram
Justin McDonald	...	Young Heelis
Judith Barker	...	Hilda

MPAA:

Rated PG brief mild language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

UK:PG | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Australia:G | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:Livre | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:All | Finland:K-3 | Ireland:G | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:Btl | Hong Kong:I

Filming Locations:

Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Phoenix Pictures

Trivia:

Beatrix Potter's "Hilltop" house is actually "Yew Tree Farm" near the town of Coniston (part of the Lake District.)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A wall thermostat is visible by the doorway and to the left of Beatrix as she enters the dining room to discuss her engagement with her parents. (Scene 9)

Quotes:

Millie Warne: I must warn you, Miss Potter, I am more than prepared to like you!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-01-06)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

When You Taught Me How to Dance

An Enchanting "Miss Potter"

"Miss Potter," based on the life of Beatrix Potter, the best selling author of children's books of all time, is an enchanting film.

Directed by Chris Noonan ("Babe") and written by Richard Maltby, Jr., whose theatrical background is no doubt the reason the 94-minute film has such a jaunty pace, "Miss Potter" is not a standard biopic in that it has the ability to appeal to pretty much everyone, with the exception of the very young, which I'll get to in a moment.

Opening images of a pair of hands carefully choosing the pencils and brushes that are the tools of the writer/illustrator's craft, paired with a voice-over that tells us that "there is something delicious about writing the first words of a story," reveal Potter's passion for her craft. Her affection for what she calls her "friends" -- the bunnies, frogs and ducks who are the subjects of her tales -- is equally strong. So strong, in fact, that we wonder, as do the two gentlemen who agree to produce her work, if Miss Potter (Rene Zellweger) isn't just a little daft.

This notion is quickly laid to rest, however, when we see the author, escorted by fledgling publisher Norman Warne (a sedately sweet Ewan McGregor), confidently direct the printing of her works, an endeavor not generally expected of single women in 1902 London, and not deemed acceptable by its society.

Among those who find this effort distasteful are Potter's parents (Barbara Flynn and Bill Patterson), a pair of "social climbers" who seek to marry their only daughter to a man of means. That she refuses these overtures is the crux of their often contentious relationship.

In lieu of marriage, Potter immerses herself in her work. As her success blossoms, so does her relationship with her champion, Mr. Warne, who introduces the author to his sister, Millie (Emily Watson), another spinster. The two women develop a palpable bond, based primarily on their like-minded philosophies about life.

Precisely how Potter developed her ideology is never told, but flashbacks to her childhood reveal an independent girl (charmingly played by newcomer Lucy Boynton) with natural storytelling abilities and a love for drawing the small animals she encounters while summering in England's bucolic Lake Country with her family. It is from these experiences that Potter fashioned her famous "Tales of..." series.

In an effort to bring Potter's experiences with the books to life on the screen, Noonan incorporates a series of technically adept animation sequences. These are completely effective in delivering the sweetness of Potter's tales, and they will appeal to even the youngest viewers. But the film offers too few of them to be satisfying. As a result they become a tease, a sort of trailer to get us to buy the books. While there are many reasons to buy and read Potter's books, using a film to get us to do so feels like too much manipulation.

In all other ways this is sound and pleasurable film-making. Performances are what one would expect from so seasoned a cast, with Zellweger bringing her natural cherubic quality to the role of the author. Production design (by Martin Childs), which incorporates a color palette that matches Potter's work, and cinematography by Andrew Dunn ("History Boys," "Mrs. Henderson") are elegant but not ostentatious, and are reminiscent of the look of "Finding Neverland," another film set in turn-of-the-century England.

In the hundred or so years since Beatrix Potter created her venerated children's series, a lot has changed in the world. One thing that hasn't, however, is that we still love a good story, particularly one that warms our hearts and makes us feel good about the world. "Miss Potter" does precisely that.