In the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion, Anne plays the same tune that Wentworth playfully played in an earlier part of the film. This little detail suggests that Wentworth learned it from Anne, who plays piano regularly, years ago.
“The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted and melancholy looking rooms, and still descending, soon found themselves on the sea-shore; and lingering only, as all must linger and gaze on a first return to the sea, who ever deserve to look on it at all …”
- Persuasion, volume 1, chapter 11, Jane Austen
In addition to the excellent writing of this adaptation, the framing of this shot is amazing. Wentworth and Anne are as far apart as they can possibly be while still being in the shot, but they are also the only two figures in darker clothing, with the others blending in more with the rocks in terms of colors. The distance between them starts to erode after this point in the story as well, so this is a visual representation of how they remain connected no matter how much physical space they keep between them.
Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way – she was only Anne.
Mrs. Croft always met her with a kindness which gave her the pleasure of fancying herself a favourite…
- Persuasion, Chapter 13
I think this scene, from the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion, is very interesting in how it contrasts Anne’s relationships with Lady Russell and Mrs Croft. Yes, technically a lady like Anne would never run across the Pump Room like that, but I love the sheer joy on her face and on Mrs Croft’s face when they are reunited!
She gloried in being a sailor’s wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance.
Anne, coming quietly down from Louisa’s room, could not but hear what followed, for the parlour door was open.
“Then it is settled, Musgrove,” cried Captain Wentworth, “that you stay, and that I take care of your sister home. But as to the rest, as to the others, If one stays to assist Mrs. Harville, I think it need be only one. Mrs. Charles Musgrove will, of course, wish to get back to her children; but if Anne will stay, no one so proper, so capable as Anne.”
She paused a moment to recover from the emotion of hearing herself so spoken of. The other two warmly agreed to what he said, and she then appeared.
“You will stay, I am sure; you will stay and nurse her,” cried he, turning to her and speaking with a glow, and yet a gentleness, which seemed almost restoring the past. She coloured deeply, and he recollected himself and moved away.
…the remarkable situation of the town, the principal street almost hurrying into the water, the walk to the Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay, which in the season is animated with bathing-machines and company; the Cobb itself, its old wonders and new improvements, with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of the town, are what the stranger’s eye will seek; and a very strange stranger it must be, who does not see charms in the immediate environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better.
…these places must be visited, and visited again to make the worth of Lyme understood.
