Merchant Ivory - Jane Austen In Manhattan

Rival theatre companies compete to produce their own unique versions of Jane Austin’s childhood play, Sir Charles Grandison, in this delightful film from Merchant Ivory Productions. George Midash (Michael Wager) buys the play’s manuscript at Sotheby’s for Pierre (Robert Powell). The head of an avant-garde theatre group. Another troupe, headed by the very traditional Lilianna Zorska (Anne Baxter), strives to produce its own version of the play. In her first film role, Sean Young co-stars as a young actress being manipulated by Pierre to leave her husband and dedicate herself to join his financially strapped company. But when Lilianna decides to match wits with Pierre and steal the young woman herself, events in real life begin to mirror those occurring within the play. A brilliant ensemble cast, a witty screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and an inventive score by Richard Robbins all contribute to make Jane Austin an elegant entertainment.