Restoration (1995)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers (WGA):

Rose Tremain (novel)
Rupert Walters (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (Canada)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

In a world of seduction and power, temptation has its price.

Plot:

An aspiring young physician, Robert Merivel found himself in the service of King Charles II and saves the life of someone close to the King...

Plot Keywords:

King | Love | King Charles II | Court | Wealth

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Robert Downey Jr.	...	Robert Merivel
Sam Neill	...	King Charles II
David Thewlis	...	John Pearce
Polly Walker	...	Celia Clemence
Meg Ryan	...	Katharine
Ian McKellen	...	Will Gates
Hugh Grant	...	Elias Finn
Ian McDiarmid	...	Ambrose
Mary MacLeod	...	Midwife
Mark Letheren	...	Daniel
Sandy McDade	...	Hannah
Rosalind Bennett	...	Eleanor
Willie Ross	...	Man with Visible Heart
David Gant	...	Chiffinch
Benjamin Whitrow	...	Merivel's Father
Neville Watchurst	...	Latin Doctor
Bryan Pringle	...	Watchman
Roy Evans	...	Fleeing Man
John Quarmby	...	The Chancellor
John Dallimore	...	The Secretary
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Mr. Bung
Janan Kubba	...	Pretty Wench
Henrietta Voigts	...	Female Patient
Simon Taylor	...	Second Doctor
Selina Giles	...	Fair Lady
Susanne McKenrick	...	Dark Lady
Nick Hutchison	...	Pinworth
Andrew Havill	...	Gallant
Tony Gardner	...	Gallant
David Ryall	...	Lord Bathurst
Jenny Runacre	...	Painter Lady
Arne Nannestad	...	Party Guest
Graham Valentine	...	Dandy
Anna Savva	...	Celia's Maid
Steven Beard	...	Messenger
Simon Carter	...	Messenger
Philip Babot	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Ena Cohen	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Dylan Davies	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Jim Ennis	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Russell Gomer	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Caroline Lamb	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Margarlda Morini	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Carole Blade	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Jessica Cohen	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Alex Edmonds	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Stephen Fisher	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Timothy Hext	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Philip Michell	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Belinda Neave	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Frank Rozelaar-Green	...	Whittlesea Dancer
Wendy Griffith	...	Court Dancer
Bernadette Iglich	...	Court Dancer
Leonni Pallett	...	Court Dancer
Beryl St. John	...	Court Dancer
Judy Herbert	...	Court Dancer
Philippa Luce	...	Court Dancer
Joanne Redfern	...	Court Dancer
Wendy Woodbridge	...	Court Dancer

Directed by
Michael Hoffman

Writing credits (WGA)
Rose Tremain		(novel)
Rupert Walters		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mark Bentley	....	associate producer
Sarah Black	....	producer
Cary Brokaw	....	producer
Donna Gigliotti	....	co-producer
Kip Hagopian	....	executive producer
Susan Merzbach	....	co-executive producer
Andy Paterson	....	producer
Garth Thomas	....	supervising producer
Bob Weinstein	....	co-producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	co-producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton

Film Editing by
Garth Craven

Casting by
Patsy Pollock
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Eugenio Zanetti

Art Direction by
Alan Cassie		(supervising art director)
Jonathan Lee
Lucy Richardson

Set Decoration by
Mark Jury
Eugenio Zanetti

Costume Design by
James Acheson

Makeup Department
Lynda Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Ronnie Cogan	....	hair stylist
Paul Engelen	....	key makeup artist
Jeanette Freeman	....	hair stylist
Debbie Gower	....	assistant makeup artist
Ken Lintott	....	makeup artist
Elizabeth Minshull	....	trainee hair stylist (as Liz Minshull)
Suzanne Stokes-Munton	....	chief hair stylist
Lisa Tomblin	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Nancy Rae Stone	....	production manager: additional photography
Guy Tannahill	....	production manager: additional photography
Vincent Winter	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gilly Case	....	third assistant director
Gerry Gavigan	....	first assistant director
Richard Styles	....	second assistant director
Paul Taylor	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John Addison	....	carpenter
Isabel Aguilar	....	assistant art director
Robert Allen	....	stand-by stagehand
Harry Alley	....	painters lab
Joe Alley	....	carpenter
Lawrence Ayres	....	dressing props
Will Ayres	....	dressing props
Les Benson	....	props
Alan Billam	....	chargehand stagehand
Ron Burkett	....	supervising painter
Adam Campbell	....	scenic painter
John Campbell	....	chargehand painter
Darryl Carter	....	carpenter
Oscar Chichoni	....	illustrator
John Clarke	....	carpenter
Jane Clark	....	storyboard artist
Jane Clive	....	print designer
John Cranston	....	carpenter
Denis Culhane	....	painter
Paul Dicker	....	chargehand painter
Gill Ducker	....	set buyer
Andy Evans	....	construction manager
Colin Fox	....	draper
Vincente Gallego	....	textile artist
Frank Gill	....	carpenter
Michael Gooch	....	carpenter
Andrew Good	....	carpenter
Matthew Gray	....	art department runner
Warren Greenham	....	painter
Ian Green	....	assistant construction manager
Ian Green	....	supervising carpenter
Brian Groves	....	painter
John Hay	....	carpenter
Paul Hedges	....	dressing props chargehand
Frank Henry	....	stand-by carpenter
David Hickman	....	carpenter
Anthony Hogan	....	stagehand
Charles Ixer	....	props
Derek Ixer	....	dressing props chargehand
Robert Jackson	....	carpenter
Peter King	....	art department assistant
Richard Kinsella	....	chargehand carpenter
John Kirsop	....	carpenter
Jess Kitley	....	production buyer
Gary Lowe	....	painter
Ged Lyden	....	carpenter
Andrew Mash	....	carpenter
Edward McLaren	....	painter
Marina Morris	....	set dresser: additional photography
Andy Nicholson	....	draftsman
Andy Nicholson	....	model maker
Brian Payne	....	property master: additional photography
Dave Pearce	....	carpenter
Ken Perkins	....	dressing props chargehand
Anna Pinnock	....	set buyer
Alfred Pulis	....	carpenter
Clifford Rashbrook	....	stagehand
Peter Risi	....	dressing props
John Roberts	....	stand-by painter
Alfie Smith	....	stand-by props
Colin Smith	....	supervising stagehand
Danny Smith	....	stagehand
Keith Smith	....	stagehand
Roy Smith	....	stagehand
Micky Swift	....	stand-by props
Tony Teiger	....	property master
Tim Wake	....	carpenter
Brian Webb	....	stagehand
Stuart Willis	....	stagehand
Regina Lee Herve	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Keith Short	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Anderson	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Roy Burge	....	additional foley editor
Michael Crouch	....	dialogue editor
Jonathan Enraght-Moony	....	assistant sound editor
Martin Evans	....	supervising sound editor
Taffy Haines	....	sound maintenance
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joe Illing	....	additional dialogue editor
Simon Kaye	....	production sound mixer
Angelica Landry	....	assistant dialogue editor
Bettina McCall	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Pryke	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Jim Roddan	....	adr editor
Tommy Staples	....	boom operator
Len Tremble	....	foley editor (as Leonard Tremble)
Jo Tuck	....	assistant foley editor

Special Effects by
David Brighton	....	special effects senior technician
John Crampton	....	special effects trainee
Jim Crockett	....	special effects rigger
Peter Hutchinson	....	special effects supervisor
Stephen Hutchinson	....	special effects technician
Nick Middleton	....	special effects senior technician
Jim Davey	....	scanning and recording (uncredited)
Karin Hanson	....	special effects hair (uncredited)
Dave Poole	....	senior special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Alex Bicknell	....	digital effects producer
Nicholas Brooks	....	visual effects
Matt Johnson	....	digital compositor
Craig Chandler	....	optical effects and titles (uncredited)
Julian Parry	....	visual effects consultant (uncredited)
Courtney Vanderslice	....	head of production: Cinesite (uncredited)
Aviv Yaron	....	data operator: Cinesite (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunts
Jim Dowdall	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Sadie Eden	....	stunts (as Sadie Eddon)
Neil Finnighan	....	stunts (as Neil Finnigan)
Sarah Franzl	....	stunts
Derek Lee	....	stunts
Mark Lisbon	....	stunts
Guy List	....	stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunt coordinator
Ray Nicholas	....	stunts
Billy Riley Jr.	....	stunts
Andy Smart	....	stunts
Trevor Steedman	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
David Appleby	....	still photographer
John Ashcroft	....	rigger
Pete Cavaciuti	....	Steadicam operator
Vince Clarke	....	electrician
Gary Cross	....	rigging gaffer
Mark Evans	....	electrician
John Ferguson	....	clapper loader
Martin Goddard	....	rigger
Richard Hosken	....	practical electrician
John Jordan	....	focus puller
Paul Kemp	....	electrician
Jeffrey Khan	....	sparks rigger
David Lawrence	....	sparks rigger
Andy Long	....	best boy
Brian Mcgivern	....	generator operator
Joseph McGrath	....	rigger
Ian McMillan	....	director of photography: additional photography
Keith McNamara	....	Steadicam focus puller
David Morgan	....	focus puller (as Dave Morgan)
Mark Moriarty	....	focus puller
Jan Pester	....	Steadicam operator
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator
Miles Proudfoot	....	clapper loader
Alex Scott	....	gaffer
Kenneth Serth	....	rigger
Jim Smart	....	electrician
Chris Tanner	....	second assistant camera
Chris Thompson	....	electrician
Bill Thornhill	....	electrician
Tony Turner	....	key grip
John Ward	....	key Steadicam operator
Jimmy Waters	....	grip
David Weller	....	stand-by rigger
Severin Woxholt	....	clapper loader
Metin Yilmaz	....	camera trainee
Bill Geddes	....	camera grip (uncredited)
Angus Hudson	....	Steadicam focus puller (uncredited)
Mark R. Leins	....	second assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)

Casting Department
Matthew Bryan	....	extras casting assistant
Simone Ireland	....	casting assistant
Jina Jay	....	casting assistant
Clare Moseley	....	extras casting coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rob Brown	....	costume props
Claire Christie	....	costumes
Mike Compton	....	costumes
Rosi Compton	....	costumes
Sara Creed	....	costumes
Naomi Critcher	....	costume props
Alan Flyng	....	wardrobe master
Sarah Hamilton	....	costumes
Ba Higgins	....	costumes
Jane Law	....	costumes
Jane Lewis	....	costume design assistant
Christine Manning	....	costumes
Paul Manning	....	costumes
Ann Maskrey	....	costumes
Ray Scott	....	costume props
Terry Smith	....	costume assistant
Joyce Stoneman	....	wardrobe supervisor
Ann Taylor	....	assistant costume designer
Natasha Teviachoff	....	costumes
Vernon White	....	costume assistant
Colin Wilson	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Daniel Craven	....	first assistant editor
Kim Gaster	....	second assistant editor
Jo Harland	....	trainee assistant editor
Laurie McDowell	....	first assistant editor
Nik Panic	....	post-production coordinator
Neil Williams	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Jason Arnold	....	music editor
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Anthony Fabian	....	music advisor
Geoff Foster	....	music recording engineer
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor
Paul Hulme	....	music recording engineer
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Simon Manley	....	assistant music editor
Michael Mason	....	score co-producer
Shawn Murphy	....	music recording engineer
Maggie Rodford	....	music coordinator
Jim Weidman	....	music editor
Rick Wentworth	....	conductor
Robert Ziegler	....	conductor
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Fred Benjafield	....	driver
Danny Boothman	....	driver
John Coleman	....	driver
John Cornelius	....	driver
Tony Elwell	....	driver
Terry English	....	driver
Bob Groves	....	driver
David Gwyther	....	driver
Tommy Hunt	....	driver
Roy Hyatt	....	driver
Ray Keats	....	driver
David Lloyd	....	driver
Clive Miles	....	driver
Clive Miles	....	transportation captain
Neil Murran	....	driver
Jim Pinhorn	....	driver
Mark Richards	....	driver
Peter Richardson	....	driver
Brian Torner	....	driver
Paul Venezia	....	driver
Andrew Walsmley	....	driver

Other crew
Jenny Adely	....	hat maker
Sharon Aiken	....	assistant: Ms. Ryan
Molly Allen	....	location manager
Maria Apodiacos	....	script supervisor
Rory Barratt	....	assistant: Mr. Zanetti
Erica Bensly	....	production coordinator
Bobby Blues	....	supervising production accountant
Catherine Bunce	....	assistant to supervising producer
Jane Clive	....	textile designer
Sally Collings	....	floor runner
Gordon Davis	....	account cashier
James Du Cann	....	trainee video playback operator
Jessica Dunn	....	assistant to supervising producer
Simon Emanuel	....	floor runner
Kate Flatt	....	choreographer
Gerald Fleuss	....	calligraphy advisor
Simon Fraser	....	assistant: Mr. Paterson and Mr. Bentley
Suzanne Freeborn	....	unit nurse
Sandra Frieze	....	contact: Shepperton
Linda Gamble	....	unit publicist
Lucy Guard	....	assistant: Mr. Brokaw
Sheri Halfon	....	executive: Avenue Pictures Productions
Anna Hall	....	assistant to director
Michael Harm	....	assistant location manager
Edward Hawkins	....	supervising rigger
Kristy Herr	....	assistant: Mr. Brokaw
Jacky Holding	....	assistant accountant
Kelly Howard-Garde	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Michael Hubert	....	production coordinator
Andrew Jack	....	dialogue coach
Michael Jones	....	hat maker
Dalbag Khaira	....	trainee video playback operator
Louisa Lidbury	....	unit nurse
John Locke	....	stand-in
Ian Madison	....	assistant: Sam Neill
Lorraine McKee	....	hat maker
Jenny Pazord	....	unit nurse
Sue Quinn	....	location manager
Domy Reiter-Soffer	....	director of movement
Kay Robinson	....	production secretary
Quinny Sacks	....	choreographer
Francesca Silvestri	....	assistant: Mr. Downey Jr.
Penny Skuse	....	trainee video playback operator
Adrian Squirrell	....	production runner
Ron Stenner	....	period medical advisor
Emma Stokes	....	stand-in
Tamara Syer	....	production secretary: The Oxford Film Company
Chris Tarry	....	assistant accountant
Kevin Welch	....	supervising rigger
Andy Weller	....	basic rigger (as Andrew Weller)
Tillie Williams	....	accommodation assistant
Tillie Williams	....	location assistant
Pamela Woods	....	gloves
Jessica Drake	....	dialect coach (uncredited)
Danielle Fox	....	contact: London (uncredited)
Pauline Hume	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Avenue Pictures Productions
• Miramax Films
• Segue Productions
• The Oxford Film Company

Distributors

• Concorde Film (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1995-1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Al!ve AG (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Cannes Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Egmont Film (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Sogepaq Distribución (Spain)
• Spentzos Films (Greece)

Special Effects

• Animated Extras (special effects make-up and prosthetics)
• Cinesite (Hollywood) (digital film effects)
• Westbury Design (matte paintings)
• Westbury Design & Optical (matte paintings)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Air Studios  music recorded at
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Intellectual Animals  dogs supplier
• J&J Preparation  catering
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Limolux Transportation  unit minibus vehicles
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recording
• Rollins Hudig Hall  insurance
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Southern Film Services  wardrobe vehicles
• Turk Film Services Ltd.  boats

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:7 | USA:R | Canada:A

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

Composer James Newton Howard's main theme is based on "Sarabande" by Georg Friedrich Händel (ca. 1705).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A player at three-card monte reports speaks of being "even Steven". The earliest known records of both the game and the phrase are in the 19th century.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Opening Title Card: In 1660 Charles II was restored to the English Throne ending 11 years of Oliver Cromwell's bleak Puritan rule. Thus began the age of Restoration. It was an era of scientific discovery, artistic exploration and luxurious sensuality.
Opening Title Card: It was also a time of natural disasters and archaic medical practices. Science was pitted against superstition. This is the story of one man's journey through the light and dark of those times.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2007-03-03)" (2007)

Lush And Unnervingly Eerie

The set design and art direction on this movie was entirely mesmerizing! I will never forget the scene in which Dr Merivile returns to court (after The Plague has ravished London) in which this huge heavy swishing pendulum like incense burner, apparently to help ward off sickness... makes such a haunting and ominous sound as it waves smoke across the vast room...you can almost smell it! This movie is robustly lush and unnervingly eerie. As has been mentioned by a few others on the database...it's full of contrast on all levels.

Personally, I was gladly surprised at how inventive Robert Downey Jr was with the role of Robert Merivel. He began with a laughing stupidity which grew to eventual compassion and downright intellect by the end of his story. Sam Neil is always all around proficient at what ever he takes on, his portrayal here is no exception, although I think he granted Charles II a lot of likableness and charm that was surely improbable in reality. Got to love the fifty or so Spaniels meandering with him down the plush hallways of the nobility through out the kingdom. And the scenes with intricate scientific inventions and mechanisms of the era were sheer beauty to behold. At the same time there was such desperation and bleak contrast when dealing with the devastation and hopelessness of The Plague...only to be followed by the horrific Fire Of London. It's a wonder civilization survived at all in England at the time. The movie's art direction was of such a brilliant intensity. Parts of the script were a bit slow but the visuals tended to make up for it. The only truly unfortunate aspect of the film was the casting of Meg Ryan...just Plumb Awful(as they say)in the role of Dr Merivil's asylum inmate lover....who was by the way, miraculously cured of her insanity by his physical attentions. Whoever twisted Hollywood arms to get her on this project should be quartered and drawn.

Considering all, this movie made me curious enough to download a copy of Samuel Pepys Diary 1665 to read more about the history of the Restoration. Isn't that what a good historical adaptation should do?