American Friends

American Friends (Original Title: American Friends ) is a 1991 British film director Tristram Powell staged comedy. The script template is derived from lead actor Michael Palin and Tristram Powell.

Action

The 46 -year-old Francis Ashby, a teacher of classics and vice president of the University of Oxford has as a representative of the conservative wing of the teachers on great opportunities to inherit the frail university presidents Rushden.

The summer holidays of 1864 Ashby spends in the Swiss Alps. Here he met the two American women Caroline Hartley and their 17 -year-old foster daughter Elinor know. Less built he is acquainted with Dr.Weeks and his family, who are also from Oxford and a promise by him hopes of a recording of her son in the university. By during a mountain hike sentenced suffered leg injury to inactivity, Ashby gets to know the two Americans closer. Especially to the attractive Elinor he is attracted to. A telegram informing Ashby about the poor health of President Rushden, let him cancel the vacation abruptly.

Back in Oxford start the conservatives and reformist wing of the teachers to get their candidate in position. The teachers of the University is to marry not allowed. The declared reformer Oliver Syme, Ashby's rival candidate, however, due to its numerous womanizing poor prospects of success. Suddenly, on the campus Caroline and Elinor to during their return to the U.S. to visit Ashby. Ashby is their appearance unpleasant, makes dealing with them but his suitability as president in question. He leads the two women through Oxford and dined on the eve of their departure together with Caroline Hartley, who secretly begins to make hopes for a relationship with Ashby itself. Elinor feels neglected and pulls through the nightly Oxford. Shosanna narrowly escapes the Victorian Police who see the young woman unaccompanied by a prostitute. He manages to escape Elinor on the university campus, where she hides the returning Ashby in his private rooms. Late at night he brings them back to their accommodation. They meet just Dr.Weeks who holds a grudge against Ashby because of botched entrance examination of his son. A partisan Ashby manages to trap the denunciatory letter from Dr.Weeks to the university administration.

Meanwhile Elinor and Caroline have made the acquaintance of Oliver Syme. A visibly interested in Elinor Syme offers both his remote cottage. While Ashby mentioned the Americans on his return to the United States to extend both their Oxford stay. Elinor finds the design is a love letter from Caroline Ashby and sees their hope in turn destroyed on live together with him. After all, they are the courtship of Syme after and sleeps with him.

After the death of President Rushden the succession issue is pending. Dr.Weeks, grateful for the intercession Ashby favor of his son at another institution, Ashby confides in Elinor that a child of Syme expected. This misstep Symes means the safe presidency for Ashby. However, he decides against running for the office which will revert to the astonished Syme. He is looking at Elinor and confesses his love. To escape the scandal, the couple traveled to Switzerland, where it all began.

Background

The plot of the film is based on the travel diaries of Edward Palin, the great-grandfather of actor and screenwriter Michael Palin. Edward Palin (1825-1903) was a Fellow at Oxford University where she completed its work in 1866 to marry 19 years younger Irish -born American Brita Gallagher, whom he had met in the Swiss Alps. The couple had seven children together.

The screenplay was in 1991 awarded the Writers' Guild of Great Britain award.

Locations

The film was made largely in the English cities of Oxford and London. The photographs were taken in the Swiss canton of Valais in the places Imfeld and Fiesch.

Criticism

" Credible performer. But Palin is not quite up to the role. "

56650
de