Blithe Spirit (2020 film)

Blithe Spirit is a 2020 British comedy film directed by Edward Hall and starring Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench, Emilia Fox, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Adil Ray, Michele Dotrice, and Aimee-Ffion Edwards. The film is based upon the 1941 play of the same name by Noël Coward, adapted for the screen by Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard, and Piers Ashworth.

Blithe Spirit
Theatrical release poster with original release window
Directed byEdward Hall
Produced by
Screenplay by
  • Nick Moorcroft
  • Meg Leonard
  • Piers Ashworth
Based onBlithe Spirit
by Noël Coward
Starring
Music bySimon Boswell
CinematographyEd Wilde
Edited byPaul Tothil
Production
companies
Distributed bySky
Release date
  • 8 October 2020 (2020-10-08) (Mill Valley)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Blithe Spirit had its world premiere at the 2020 Mill Valley Film Festival.

Cast

Production

In May 2019, it was announced Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, and Judi Dench had joined the cast of the film, with Edward Hall, directing from a screenplay by Piers Ashworth, Meg Leonard and Nick Moorcroft.[1] In June 2019, Leslie Mann, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Emilia Fox, Dave Johns and James Fleet joined the cast of the film.[2][3]

Principal photography began in June 2019.[4]

Release

The film premiered on 8 October 2020 at the Mill Valley Film Festival,[5] and was screened later in the same month at the San Diego International Film Festival.[6] The film was scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2020, but was delayed to 4 September 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then further delayed to 25 December 2020.[7] In November 2020, Sky acquired British distribution rights to the film, and was going to release it on the Sky Cinema channel on 15 January 2021.[8] IFC Films will distribute the film in the United States.[9]

Reception

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 31% approval rating based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "An indifferent adaptation of classic source material, Blithe Spirit puts a star-studded cast through the motions without capturing the story's screwball spark."[10] According to Metacritic, which sampled six critics and calculated a weighted average score of 20 out of 100, the film received "generally unfavorable reviews".[11]

References
  1. Grater, Tom (15 May 2019). "Judi Dench, Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher to star in UK comedy 'Blithe Spirit' for Protagonist (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  2. Fleming Jr, Mike (17 June 2019). "Leslie Mann To Star In Noel Coward Adaptation 'Blithe Spirit'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  3. Wiseman, Andreas (18 June 2019). "'Blithe Spirit': StudioCanal Among Buyers Of Comedy With Dan Stevens & Judi Dench, Shoot Under Way". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. "Dame Judi Dench, Dan Stevens, and Isla Fisher Will Lead BLITHE SPIRIT Film Re-Imagining". Broadway News. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  5. Anderson, Erik (September 10, 2020). "43rd Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) 'Drive-In Cinema' kicks off October 8 with 'Blithe Spirit'". awardswatch.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  6. "The Re-Imagined 2020 San Diego International Film Festival Announces Festival to Feature Virtual Village & Drive-In Movies! | San Diego International Film Festival". 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  7. Brew, Simon (24 June 2020). "Blithe Spirit: trailer, and new December release date". filmstories.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a35127666/dan-stevens-blithe-spirit-clip/
  9. Ray-Ramos, Dino (11 June 2020). "IFC Films Acquires Comedy 'Blithe Spirit' Starring Leslie Mann, Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher And Judi Dench". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  10. "Blithe Spirit (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. "Blithe Spirit Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
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