Stars: Paul McGann, Florence Hoath, Elizabeth Earl, Harvey Keitel, Peter O’Toole, Bill Nighy, Peter Mullan, Mel Gibson | Written by Albert Ash, Tom McLoughlin | Directed by Charles Sturridge
Do you believe in fairies? If the answer is yes, don’t worry because a lot of other people seem to too, hell even Arthur Conan Doyle did. FairyTale: A True Story may only be loosely based on the facts of the Cottingley Fairies and the photographs that fooled so many people, but is there harm in believing in a little magic sometimes?
When two young girls take pictures of fairies excitement grows when the photographs are tested by experts and found to be real, or at least hard to fake. When Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O’Toole) and Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) refuse to call it a hoax this seems to be the final confirmation that is needed for the world...
Do you believe in fairies? If the answer is yes, don’t worry because a lot of other people seem to too, hell even Arthur Conan Doyle did. FairyTale: A True Story may only be loosely based on the facts of the Cottingley Fairies and the photographs that fooled so many people, but is there harm in believing in a little magic sometimes?
When two young girls take pictures of fairies excitement grows when the photographs are tested by experts and found to be real, or at least hard to fake. When Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O’Toole) and Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) refuse to call it a hoax this seems to be the final confirmation that is needed for the world...
- 24/03/2015
- di Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Film review: 'Fairytale -- a True Story'
"Fairy tales can come true, they can happen to you -- if you're young at heart." That vaunted lyric sums up the theme of this wonderfully whimsical tale of two young girls who stunned the world in 1917 when they photographed a fairy in their summer garden.
A captivating children's film, this Paramount release is an appealing winner. Likely to be praised by critics, teachers and arts-council types, the only reservation one has about this ethereal gem is whether its sophisticated abstractions will connect with flesh-and-blood children.
Alas, it seems more like a movie outing for Hillary and Chelsea than one for the kids in the neighborhood. Paramount will likely find the biggest fans for this film are adults who are young at heart and appreciate the film's celebration of the magical powers of innocence.
In this auspicious storytelling, screenwriter Ernie Contreras has distilled the bare facts of two young girls' photographing a fairy and spun them around the events and thinking of the day. Incredibly, this true story lured into its philosophical midst such figures as illusionist/escape artist Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) and the venerable Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O'Toole). Contreras' scenario is well-founded and appealing, grounded in the basic kids' complaint that adults never take them seriously.
In essence, we see that adults are too serious to comprehend the real wonders of existence. The storytelling is also keenly flecked with one girl's belief that her father, who has been declared missing in action in World War I, will someday return.
Charles Sturridge's kindly directorial wand conjures up the spry and supple theme, never dwelling on didactic points or overreaching in either tenor or tone. It's a gentle tale, graced with humorous dollops. The two lead girls are well-chosen. Florence Hoath's graceful, intelligent performance as 13-year-old Elsie is a high point and 10-year-old Elizabeth Earl shows some real moxie and poise as the headstrong Frances.
The supporting performances are all top-drawer. O'Toole brings luster as the master of deduction, Conan Doyle, while Keitel imbues his Houdini character with credible scrappiness.
Fittingly, the technical contributions are magical. Michael Coulter's lush cinematography, Zbigniew Preisner's captivating compositions and Michael Howell's inviting production design are of the highest quality.
FAIRYTALE - A TRUE STORY
Paramount Pictures
Icon Prods./Wendy Finerman Prods.
Producer Wendy Finerman, Bruce Davey
Director Charles Sturridge
Screenwriter Ernie Contreras
Co-producers/co-story Albert Ash,
Tom Loughlin
Executive producer Paul Tucker
Co-producer Selwyn Roberts
Associate producer Margaret French Isaac
Director of photography Mike Coulter
Production designer Michael Howells
Editor Peter Coulson
Music Zbigniew Preisner
Costume designer Shirley Russell
Visual effects supervisor Tim Webber
Color/stereo
Cast:
Elsie Wright Florence Hoath
Frances Griffiths Elizabeth Earl
Arthur Wright Paul McGann
Polly Wright Phoebe Nicholls
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Peter O'Toole
Harry Houdini Harvey Keitel
Running time -- 98 minutes...
A captivating children's film, this Paramount release is an appealing winner. Likely to be praised by critics, teachers and arts-council types, the only reservation one has about this ethereal gem is whether its sophisticated abstractions will connect with flesh-and-blood children.
Alas, it seems more like a movie outing for Hillary and Chelsea than one for the kids in the neighborhood. Paramount will likely find the biggest fans for this film are adults who are young at heart and appreciate the film's celebration of the magical powers of innocence.
In this auspicious storytelling, screenwriter Ernie Contreras has distilled the bare facts of two young girls' photographing a fairy and spun them around the events and thinking of the day. Incredibly, this true story lured into its philosophical midst such figures as illusionist/escape artist Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) and the venerable Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O'Toole). Contreras' scenario is well-founded and appealing, grounded in the basic kids' complaint that adults never take them seriously.
In essence, we see that adults are too serious to comprehend the real wonders of existence. The storytelling is also keenly flecked with one girl's belief that her father, who has been declared missing in action in World War I, will someday return.
Charles Sturridge's kindly directorial wand conjures up the spry and supple theme, never dwelling on didactic points or overreaching in either tenor or tone. It's a gentle tale, graced with humorous dollops. The two lead girls are well-chosen. Florence Hoath's graceful, intelligent performance as 13-year-old Elsie is a high point and 10-year-old Elizabeth Earl shows some real moxie and poise as the headstrong Frances.
The supporting performances are all top-drawer. O'Toole brings luster as the master of deduction, Conan Doyle, while Keitel imbues his Houdini character with credible scrappiness.
Fittingly, the technical contributions are magical. Michael Coulter's lush cinematography, Zbigniew Preisner's captivating compositions and Michael Howell's inviting production design are of the highest quality.
FAIRYTALE - A TRUE STORY
Paramount Pictures
Icon Prods./Wendy Finerman Prods.
Producer Wendy Finerman, Bruce Davey
Director Charles Sturridge
Screenwriter Ernie Contreras
Co-producers/co-story Albert Ash,
Tom Loughlin
Executive producer Paul Tucker
Co-producer Selwyn Roberts
Associate producer Margaret French Isaac
Director of photography Mike Coulter
Production designer Michael Howells
Editor Peter Coulson
Music Zbigniew Preisner
Costume designer Shirley Russell
Visual effects supervisor Tim Webber
Color/stereo
Cast:
Elsie Wright Florence Hoath
Frances Griffiths Elizabeth Earl
Arthur Wright Paul McGann
Polly Wright Phoebe Nicholls
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Peter O'Toole
Harry Houdini Harvey Keitel
Running time -- 98 minutes...
- 12/09/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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