North and South (DVD)

One of the best romantic movies ever

Interesting story. A little drab perhaps.

Note: spoilers ahead.This is one of my favorite movies. It is based on Elizabeth Gaskell's book of the same name, abd stays (relatively) true to the 1850s book. It follows Margaret Hale, a genteel young woman raised in the South, as she adapts to life in a cold, polluted mill town of the industrial north (Manchester, renamed to Milton). Margaret has strong disilke at first sight to a mill owner, who vecomes her fathers pupil. The two are diametrically opposed in their points of view about all major aspects of life. However, both soften their views and fall in love over time. There are some changes compared to the novel. First, the screenwriters needed a reason for Margaret's dislike of the mill owner, John Thorton, which would resonate with contemporary viewers. In the novel her reason for dislike is her own cladsism and snobbery. He is not "from money" or from a genteel but impoverished family like herself. He us "in trade", that is he has earned his money through business, not inherited it. In the 1850s people who made their own fortune were looked down upon by the upper classes. That's funny, because today, most of us admire those who have earned their way. In the film, Margaret's initial dislike of John is because he beats a millworker who us smoking in the mill, and who is putting the mill in grave danger of fire. Margaret is shocked and appalled at John's behavior.The other way the adaptation differs from the book is that the adaptation has been sanitized of almost all references to religion, or God. Elizabeth Gaskell was the daughter of a unitarian minister, and thought that any worship of God was a good thing. Several characters in the book bring up religious themes. Not so for the adaptatiom. The father is a former minister of Church of England, but the adaptation doesn't really get into the doubts about church doctrine that cause him to leave his position and uproot his family. Nor does the adaptation discuss the ruminations of Margaret's dying friend on heaven. I guess the screenwriters thought that would make a contemporary audience uncomfortable.Nonetheless the adaptation is lovely and is one of my three favorite historical dramas. I highly recommend it.

I had seen the first few minutes of "North and South" and set the movie aside as a little fluffy. The frenetic wedding scene is very different from the rest. But I had time one day to watch more - and finished the whole series in one sitting. My view changed as Margaret Hale's vision of Milton and Mr. Thornton changed. Then I read the book - and it's my favorite period romance, with everything from social commentary to romance. After writing "Mary Barton," and hearing flack from the leaders of trade, I think author Elizabeth Gaskell sat down and said, "Okay, how do I present a mill owner who is positive? Who would be an ideal master?" And there she went. And the female saves the day - she doesn't sit pining for her love (though there is painful pining on both sides); she keeps moving and doing. I can't emphasize this enough - these are two characters we would like to be like. We would like to have Margaret's bravery, responsibility, and generosity, and John's determination, passion, and morality. We can look up to both of these people.The primary setting is Milton (Manchester). Margaret moves from a place of golden beauty to one of gray industry. Her entrance into the cotton factory never happened in the book, but it's a gorgeous Narnian opening of a heavy door into another world. The introduction of Thornton (he beats a smoking worker) was not in the book other than the phrase "it's a word and a blow with Thornton," but I think the filmmakers would have a hard time conveying the different classes and divide of gentry and trade workers. Margaret is horrified and takes sides. She adjusts and finds ways she can help others - from a mill worker with cotton in her lungs and Bessie's union-leader father. Through the book and movie, she grows into a person who can finally embrace the true worth of a person, as Thornton grows toward becoming a better master from his experience with the Hales - Margaret removing her former ideas of "shoppy," "trade," and "gentleman"; and Mr. Thornton replacing "hands" with "men." In the end, each character exchanges best pieces of each other.The acting is excellent. Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe make the film. Armitage is simultaneously and believably the controlled and principled master, and also the kneeling son and vulnerable lover. All of the minor characters are wonderful: Mr. Bell, with his gloss and dancing moves; Bessie, who is funny and not so woeful as in the book; Higgins, who is humorous and helpful; Mr. Hale, with his faults of cloudiness but his love for Margaret; Mrs. Thornton, with her rigid love for a good son...just on and on. I would encourage anyone to read the book; there is such gorgeous pathos - I've never felt my heart actually hurt when reading something, but it did during the prolonged period of longing. In both book and film, I came away with the satisfaction of love realized, more awareness of the changes the industrial revolution wrought, and aspiration to hold similar values to those of Margaret Hale and John Thornton. I highly recommend this film.