ITV's 2007 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey will be available to stream for free on ITVX from September 24. The period drama, hailed as one of ITV's best offerings, arrives as Netflix prepares to release its new TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and a new version of Sense and Sensibility hits cinemas.
Cast and Plot
The film follows teen heroine Catherine Morland, played by Felicity Jones, whose love of gothic literature lands her in trouble. After being invited to visit the titular estate by General Tilney (Liam Cunningham), Catherine concludes that he murdered his late wife and begins investigating. She is later chided by clergyman Henry Tilney (JJ Feild) for her passion for Gothic literature, which leads her to concoct wild theories about others.
In typical Austen fashion, misunderstandings occur before the heroine gets a happy ending. Jones, Oscar-nominated for The Theory of Everything and The Brutalist, portrays the foolish but loveable protagonist, while Feild stars as the hero, Henry. The cast also includes Carey Mulligan, Geraldine James, Liam McMahon, Michael Judd, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Desmond Barrit, William Beck, Patrick Ryan, Julia Dearden, Gerry O'Brien, and David Sheehan.
Audience Praise
The film holds a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb. One reviewer wrote in a 9/10 review that Northanger Abbey was “A thrilling and bang-up-to-date adaptation of a fantastic book” and hailed it as “pretty much faultless”. Another praised screenwriter Andrew Davies, behind the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, calling the script “brilliant” and adding: “The best of the current offerings.”
A third reviewer wrote in a 10/10 review: “This is a really lovely TV/film version of this book, and of course... the script is by master adapter Andrew Davies. He is just magnificent.” Another called the film “excellent fun” and praised Feild's performance, while the supporting cast was described as “exceptional”. One fan noted: “I was instantly hooked. As a lover of romantic stories, I loved the cute relationship between Henry and Catherine. (The kiss at the end is v.sweet!).”
