Turtle Diary

Turtle Diary is a 1985 British film directed by John Irvin and starring Glenda Jackson, Ben Kingsley, and Michael Gambon. Based on a screenplay adapted by Harold Pinter from Russell Hoban's novel Turtle Diary, the film is about "people rediscovering the joys of life and love".[1] The film contains elements of romance, comedy, and drama and has been described as a romantic comedy.

Turtle Diary
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Irvin
Produced byRichard Johnson
Bernard Sofronski (Executive Producer)
Written byRussell Hoban (novel)
Harold Pinter (screenplay)
Starring
Music byGeoffrey Burgon
CinematographyPeter Hannan
Edited byPeter Tanner
Distributed byThe Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date
  • 29 November 1985 (1985-11-29) (UK)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

Two lonely Londoners - Neaera Duncan, a children's author (Glenda Jackson), and William Snow, a bookstore assistant (Ben Kingsley) - find common ground when visiting the sea turtles at London Zoo. Independently, each perceives that the turtles are unnaturally confined, and they hatch a plan with the assistance of zookeeper George Fairbairn (Michael Gambon) to smuggle them out and release them into the sea.

Their release of the turtles is a metaphor for their escape from their inhibitions.

Main cast
  • Glenda Jackson, as Neaera Duncan, a "Popular children's author … fearing her creative talents have evaporated, [who] escapes into the dreamy world of sea turtles seeking inspiration in their beauty and grace."[2]
  • Ben Kingsley, as William Snow, "a humble assistant in a bookstore where he, too, dreams of the turtles."[2]
  • Richard Johnson, as Mr. Johnson, a neighbor of Neaera Duncan
  • Michael Gambon, as George Fairbairn, the zookeeper charged with caring for the turtles
  • Jeroen Krabbé, as Mr. Sandor, a neighbor of William Snow
  • Rosemary Leach, as Mrs. Charlie Inchcliff, Williams Snow's landlady.
  • Eleanor Bron, as Miss Neap, a neighbor of William Snow
  • Harriet Walter, as Harriet Simms, a colleague of William Snow at the bookstore
  • Nigel Hawthorne, as the Publisher of books by Neaera Snow

Harold Pinter has a cameo role as a man in the bookshop where William and Harriet work.

Critical reception and analysis

In his 1985 Sunday Telegraph review of the film, Castell observes that Pinter's screenplay concentrates on developing dialogue and plot, leaving clues for the actors to convey their characters' subtle emotional and psychological development: "It is hard to think of two actors better matched to play Pinter than Glenda Jackson and Ben Kingsley. They milk every nuance, point up every missed beat and relish each irony and repetition in the script. … Turtle Diary is a fine film that charts movingly the unnoticed despair of everyday lives, the sufferings of those who endure loneliness in silence."[1]

The film grossed $2.2 million in its U.S. theatrical release.

Home video

The film was released on videocassette in 1986 by Vestron Video. The film has not yet been released on DVD.

Notes
  1. David Castell (1 December 1985). "Review of Turtle Diary" (Web). Sunday Telegraph. HaroldPinter.org. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  2. "Turtle Diary (1985)(VHS): Editorial reviews: Product Description" (Web). Amazon.com. Retrieved 6 April 2009. Critically hailed as a mini-masterpiece, TURTLE DIARY is the enchanting film of people rediscovering the joys of life and love. … Outside of their chance meetings at the aquarium, they have little in common, but an inspiration to free the captive turtles starts a bond that gives their lives a new outlook. The 'turtlenappers' are about to set their own spirits free.

References
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