Saturday, November 29, 2014

November 29 - Lorna Doone

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on November 29, Watch it tonight and enjoy.

LORNA DOONE

The Doones, an armed gypsy-like band raid the town and kill John Ridd’a father. His mother goes to see the Doones in their stronghold. They say he fired first and thus the Ridd farm is now theirs. However, in the end the leader sends her away with some cash. John Ridd goes fishing, gets knocked out accidentally, and is washed downstream into the lair of the Doones and is rescued by Lorna Doone, who shows him a secret route in and out of their base. Years pass by and on John Ridd’s birthday, November 29, 16__, his uncle Rueben is attacked by the Doones. [20:40 to 24:45]  The local squire is determined to do nothing about it. Ridd and his uncle take the secret route, where Ridd sees Lorna Doone, who has been resisting the advances of Carver Doone, grandson of Ensor Doone, their leader. Ridd is summoned to London, where Lord Chief Jeffries says he will crush the Doones as he fears they would support James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, when Charles II dies. Lorna tells Carver to get lost. Ridd is hauled before Ensor Doone and threatened with death, but Lorna talks him out of it. Ridd’s sister Annie wants to marry Tom Fergus, a highwayman. Just before he dies Ensor gives a necklace to Lorna. Ridd rescues Lorna. The Doones attack the Ridd farm to get her back. They are driven off, but Lorna stops Ridd from killing Carver. Carver’s dad arrives on a ‘peace’ mission, but instead steals the necklace. Tom Fergus goes to London to investigate the necklace and discovers it belonged to the Countess of Dougal, who was Lorna’s mom. Lorna wants to forget this info, but Capt. Sickles, head of an army detachment sent to fight the Doones, sends her to London. Ridd’s other sister marries a sergeant in the squad. Tom and Annie get married. When Ridd’s leters to Lorna in London are returned unopened he briefly considers marrying his cousin Ruth, but decides he still loves Lorna. Charles II dies and Monmouth lands an army. Ridd argues for being neutral, but Tom joins the rebels. Ridd travels to the battlefield at Sedgmoor and rescues him, but is captured and presumed to be a rebel. Capt. Sickles speaks up for him and Ridd is spared if he helps get rid of the Doones. Ridd and Lorna, who’s now the Countess of Dougal meet in London and find out someone had been stealing their letters to each other. Ridd guides the army in via the secret route to attack the Doones.  Ridd is knighted, gets engaged to Lorna and wins a pardon for Tom. Carver shows up at the wedding and shoots Lorna.  Ridd and Carver have a knock-down drag out fight and Ridd wins. Ruth nurses Lorna back to health.   

A rousing adventure story for guys. A great romance for women. Has something to keep everyone happy.

Lorna Doone by Richard Blackmore (Penguin Books, New York, 2005) at page 19 gives his birthdate

Producer - Deirdre Keir

Director - Mike Barker

Screenplay - Adrian Hodges

Runtime - 2 hours 30 minutes

Released - March 11, 2001

Starring -

Richard Coyle as John Ridd
Amelia Warner as Lorna Doone
Peter Vaughn as Ensor Doone
Aidan Gillan as Carver Doone
Michael Kitchen as Judge Jeffries


Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014. 



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