Photographing Fairies ** (1997, Toby Stephens, Ben Kingsley, Edward Hardwicke, Frances Barber, Ben Kingsley, Emily Woof, Philip Davis) – Classic Movie Review 6289

A love story that extends into the next world, a spot of sleuthing with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Edward Hardwicke), and Steven Spielberg-style supernatural creatures flying around the English countryside. This 1997 British fantasy mystery drama can’t fail really, can it? But it does.

Debut director Nick Willing bites off more than he can chew in telling this fascinating story, based on true events. A young Edwardian English photographer called Charles Castle (Toby Stephens), whose bride dies in mountain accident on the honeymoon, is shown a tree that is apparently the haunt of fairies by Beatrice (Frances Barber), the wife of a reverend gentleman, the Reverend Templeton (Ben Kingsley).

Even if you want to believe all this, how can you as presented so limply and lamely here? The winged Barbie Doll special-effect fairies when they come in the final reel are a letdown of the first order, but they are still more persuasive than the script. The performances from the reliable British actors are commendable, though.

The screenplay by Nick Willing and Chris Harrald is based on the book by Steve Szilagyi. The film is shot by John de Borman, produced by Michele Camarda, scored by Simon Bowel and designed by Laurence Dorman.

Also in the cast are Emily Woof, Philip Davis, Hannah Bould, Miriam Grant, Rachel Shelley, Clive Merrison, Stephen Churchett, Mary Healey, Maggie Wells, Richenda Carey and Jeremy Young.

Another version of the tale, FairyTale: A True Story (1997), was filmed simultaneously.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6289

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