In 1869, R. D. Blackmore published Lorna Doone A Romance of Exmoor. My helpmate at IMDb identifies eight (8) video treatments of that novel – each titled Lorna Doone [1920, 1922, 1935, 1951, 1963, 1976, 1990, and 2000]. This is the story of the last of these.


THE STORY

In his Preface, the author calls Lorna Doone a romance. While I have not read the book, the video storyline is more a mélange of adventure, drama, history, and romance. At its heart, Lorna Doone is a love triangle. But there is more to the story.

The action takes place in the 1680’s in what were then the remote reaches of England’s West Country. The Monmouth Rebellion and the struggle for the Crown is about to rage across the land. The Doones of the title refers to the once-landed Scottish gentry now reduced to a family of brigands in Exmoor’s Bagworthy Forest. Sir Ensor Doone, the clan sovereign, is aging. The heir to the family forest fortress is his brash grandson, Carver. Another who calls the old man “grandfather”, is the lovely Lorna. [But is she truly his granddaughter?] Carver and Lorna have been “promised to each other” since childhood. As she matures, however, Lorna becomes ever more wary of Carver’s brutal ways.

Then one day she rescues mild mannered John Ridd and her emotions are off at a full gallop. Carver and John are about as different as two men can be. Carver’s black garb clothes an even blacker heart. John, on the contrary, seems much too gentle to have survived those turbulent times. Lorna finds herself caught between two mutually exclusive choices. On one hand she can choose family – but get Carver in the bargain. On the other hand she can choose John – but abandon her family as a result. Not an easy choice in any age.

So the cinematic stage plays out the age-old conflicts.

Age vs Youth

Aristocrat vs Commoner

Evil vs Good

Hate vs Love

All of this is set against the backdrop of the struggle for the English Crown in the 17th century. In fact, the storyline shares much in common with other cinematic period tales dealing with inter-clan conflict. [Films with a family feud focus such as Braveheart and Rob Roy spring to mind.]


THE CAST

Amelia Warner has the title role of Lorna. At only twenty, she instills the Doone Princess with an innocent beauty that might cause many a 17th century man to cross swords for her favor. Her Lorna, however, seems much too delicate and freshly scrubbed to inhabit the harsh life of the brigand encampment. [Amelia’s earlier screen credits include the part of Simone in the 2000 film Quills and Antonia in Don Quixote.]

Richard Coyle plays the part of John Ridd. He is very believable as the smitten farmer torn between hatred of the Doones and love of Lorna. His utter abandon is an emotion most love-tossed young men can identify with. He deftly straddles the fence between the heroic and the fallible. With his tailored clothes and well-groomed appearance, he seems an unlikely 17th century English farmer. [Richard also played Count Morlas in the three musketeers-themed Young Blades (2000) and Trimmer McTavish in the very forgettable Sword of Honor the following year.]

But I feel that the lead acting honors must go to the villain, Carver Doone. Aidan Gillen imbues Carver with an evil that is NOT skin deep. No, Gillen’s Carver is evil all the way to the bone. His sneer alone could raise your neck hairs. [I will be interested to see how he handles the role of Rathbone in next year’s re-pairing of Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson in Shanghai Knights.]

There were a number of fine performances by other cast members. Two, Martin Clunes and Anthony Calf stand out. Clunes delivered a sound portrayal of Loyalist Captain Jeremy Stickles. The rogue highwayman Tom was in the good hands of Anthony Calf.


THE FILM

The true star of Lorna Doone is the countryside. Much of the film was shot on locations at Brecon Beacons in Wales and London. Chris Seager’s cinematography was superb. Cold mountain streams race past lichen-covered boulders and fish shelter in quiet pools. The lush farmland of the Ridd’s stands in stark contrast to the dark, brooding rocks that surround the Doone mountain fortress.

The original score by John Lunn was a definite asset to the movie. Lorna Doone was very much an atmosphere piece and the music shifted effortlessly as the film’s moods changed. Not once did I find the soundtrack distracting.

The action scenes were artfully done with little evidence of computer enhancement. The grim realities of blade-to-blade combat were well choreographed and just graphic enough to be realistic. [My one disappointment here involves some of the musketry. Even firing a matchlock musket from horseback would be difficult. To do so at a gallop as accurately as depicted in the film would be near impossible.]


RANDOM THOUGHTS

Here, at the dawn of the 21st century, you can actually walk the hills often referred to as "Lorna Doone Country”. For some fine photographs and more detail visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/walks/lorna_doone.shtml.

As for the confection connection, check out http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20020425.html for some plausible explanations. These include some remarks from Nabisco [makers of Lorna Doone the cookie] executives.

© Gungian 2002


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older