I often complain that there are not even movie adaptations of Jane Austen classics for me to watch when I’m in a hopelessly romantic mood. So I was delighted that I Capture the Castle pretty much fit this genre to a T, although taking place in the 1930’s. Even better, if you ask me!

I’ve heard this movie described as a bit of a non-love story, although I really don’t want to give too much away here, so I’ll just let you know the basics of the story unfolds.

Two young ladies live with their eccentric family in a castle that their father started renting out after he wrote a best selling novel, claiming it would bring him the inspiration he needed to write another. Ten years later, and no second novel, the family is just trying to survive, without being evicted from the castle.

While traveling through, the landlord’s American sons get stuck in the mud outside of the castle. The girls are excited to have some young men around, though thoroughly embarrassed of their eccentric and rather strange living circumstances.

The eldest daughter begins to make a bit of a fool of herself trying to charm one of the sons into falling for her, hoping that she can rescue her dismal circumstances through marriage to a rich American boy.

The story evolves through a frustrating circle of affections, heart breaks, and lots of change for both of the families. It’s a beautiful film, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The perfect movie to kick off Spring, I think!

Georgy is a pudgy, not very pretty girl who is too busy living life, laughing, and loving, to worry about the way she looks or to try to change herself to attract a man. She seems to do well, taking care of her friends and going about her every day life as a music teacher, and even manages to elicit a proposal from the older gentleman for whom her father works as a butler. It’s not exactly the proposal of adoption, as Georgy expected, and definitely not marriage, as his own wife spends most of her days sick in bed.

Georgy lives with Meredith, a beautiful girl whose boyfriend hangs out in the apartment more than she does, always waiting for Meredith to come home from her excursions with other boys. It turns out that Georgy spends more time with him than Meredith does, and begins to wish she was pretty and could have a boyfriend like him.

One night she gets her chance to see what life would be like with her roommate’s boyfriend. They spend the night dancing, and doing a little bit of romancing, but later they both find out that Meredith is expecting his child, so Georgy takes the backseat again, making preparations for her friends’ wedding.

After the wedding, Meredith’s now husband feels regretful at leaving Georgy behind, and so Georgy finds herself with not one, but two men on her hands. What does she want? What kind of life will she choose?

Bette Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in this movie, and after watching it, i’m sure you will understand why. The little nuances she introduces into the role of Fanny Trellis, a well-poised lady of the early 20th Century, are just remarkable. You can especially appreciate her character development if you are used to the typically hard-edged, saucy Bette.

Her character in Mr. Skeffington is a woman who is used to getting what she wants, and using her looks along the way. Fanny Trellis is everyone’s darling, but also gives back to her loved ones with an open heart. When her brother falls into financial woes, and their family fortune falls by the wayside, she concocts a plan to set everything right.

As time goes by, she becomes increasingly jaded and selfish. No longer sweet and considerate to others, Fanny’s behavior becomes like that of someone who is merely tolerating everyone around her. She is even too self absorbed to be a part of her own daughter’s life.

When she suddenly loses her beauty, she is faced with the realization that all she had held important revolved around what she saw in the mirror. But by then, most of the people in her life have moved on. It’s very interesting to see how Bette’s character managed to change, along with her looks.

I think this is a movie you will enjoy if you like a good drama with a strong female lead. It is no coincidence that the screen shots I have shared are mostly of Bette. It’s pretty much all about Fanny. And that’s what Fanny would say if you asked her, too. ;)