Miss in Her Teens

A well endowed maiden summons up three suitors, but her preference produces a twist in the tale.

Low budget: the war in Flanders is two blokes in uniform, some smoke, a canon, and a horse. But it works. The location and costumes are convincing, and the performances mostly good - some hesitations in delivery - with a fine feeling of farce.

The story's not that elaborate, so the delights of a complex dance, as the characters meet and part and meet again, aren't quite there. Because of that we don't get to see the Aunt again, even though she gives the best performance. Mr Fribble is good, but the conflict between the suitors has little tension, and Loveit Senior is too facile a character on which to hang the climax.

It's an engaging project, but I wonder if the storytellers might have got more out of it by going full meta, rather than confining themselves to an epilogue. A parallel frame set in Garrick's Drury Lane, with similar romantic shenanigans played by the same actors? Too big for the budget, I suppose.

Overall: slight but nice.

I have recently become aware of these filmmakers, Matthew Butler and Tori Hart, after seeing their latest feature, Two Down at a festival in L.A. I was blown away by it and have steadily tracked down more of their work including short films and this period piece based on an old play from the 1700's.

It's a tricky job adapting a play which is so designed for the stage and they've done a good job. I feel this script could have been worked on more so as to work more for screen, but I can see that they were also trying to keep as much of the original material as they could, which I feel is refreshing from an adaptation.

But the filmmaking is great and the performances are magnificent. Mostly unknown actors are used, apart from a bit of narration from Ian McKellen and a small scene from Simon Callow, but it goes to prove that you don't need names to make a film good. It only runs at 70 minutes but I would happily have watched these actors do their thing for much longer.

I think it wasn't a huge budget, but they have really made their money work. The location and costumes are spot-on and it all goes towards giving it an historical, but theatrical, feel, which the material really needs.

The film was made a few years ago, and now that they have clearly improved their skills, I would love to see Fizz and Ginger Films tackle a period comedy again.

I would happily watch this film again and again. Some of the performances are really something to see. And after you've watched it, go and watch the latest feature, Two Down and see how far along the filmmaking road they have come in a few short years.

I've become a big fan of the Fizz and Ginger Films' team, if you haven't guessed!

I sought out this film because it was in competition with a film I featured in in a film festival and it was very hard to track down. I eventually found a region free copy on Amazon or Ebay, I forget which. This illustrates how few people would have got to see this since its release and that, I think, is a shame. True, it won't be to everyone's taste, its low budget origins are apparent and some of the acting is ripe in tone but as a Georgian farce, that is understandable and forgivable and as a first time feature, commendably brave. At just one hour and 10 minutes it is brief and for that running time, rattles along at a terrific pace. The plot is simple, Biddy Belair, the teen miss of the title (And I know this is David Garrick's original title but it does, unfortunately, give the idea of rather dodgier fare!) is in love with a dashing young captain but is also paid suit to by a poltroon, a ridiculous fop and an old man. No prizes for guessing how it turns out. The cast boasts some name actors in Ian McKellen, Simon Callow and Carol Royle (of BBC's Life Without George fame) but they have little to do besides add a bit of marquee value, McKellen and Callow bookend the piece as an unseen prologue narrator and the author as an epilogue respectively. Royle has a little more to do as an aunt who stands in the way of true love. Nevertheless it is impressive that the nascent director and producer team of Matthew Butler and Tori Hart have the muscle and negotiation skills to get the aforementioned actors on board. The strongest performances of the film are to be found in Hart's delightful Biddy Belair, flitting effortlessly between wide eyed Innocence and a delicious impish pleasure in mischief and Gil Sutherland's old rogue of a lech, Sir Simon Loveit. I Also admired director Butler's use of small part players, allowing them moments to shine (Ben Lee's drunken servant comes to mind). Agreeable support amongst others, comes from Adam Alexander as Biddy's real love interest and John Fitzpatrick as a typically wise, comic confidant/servant. So all in all, this film does betray its low budget and theatrical origins but has some wonderful exteriors and interiors and is a wonderfully jolly, Georgian romp with Butler's sure but light hand on the tiller. Well worth a watch!

I really love the movie. The fact is that it takes time to discover anything about the plot not a problem for me, but it was clear to many. If you can just keep asking questions until the end of the movie then this is for you. The plot is really engaging and unique. For me, it was a great comedy and it did a perfect job of blowing up the laughter. Easily one of my favorite movies of all time, and the best movies of recent years!

I've been looking forward to seeing this for some time now and was not disappointed. I know the play well and wondered how they would approach the story given that 18th century plots could be tricky yet simple at the same time. I was pleased to see that they managed to stick very closely to the original but still creating a cinematic delight. No easy task with the original text! But the film flew by and I never felt they had 'dumbed it down' for the movie folk, but made it accessible for all.

It's simply done, but they have mined all their skills to get everything they can out of the material. Very accomplished storytelling and outstanding performances from everyone of the actors.

If you want good clean fun, this is the film for you. It certainly was for my family!