I Capture the Castle (film)

I Capture the Castle is a 2003 British film directed by Tim Fywell. It is based on the 1948 novel of the same title by Dodie Smith, with the screenplay written by Heidi Thomas. The film was released in the UK on 9 May 2003.

Romola Garai played the lead role of Cassandra Mortmain alongside Bill Nighy, Rose Byrne and Tara Fitzgerald.

Synopsis
The film follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai), and the fortunes of her eccentric family, struggling to survive in genteel poverty in a decaying English castle. The characters include: Cassandra's father (Bill Nighy), a writer who hasn't written anything in the twelve years since the spectacular success of his first novel; Cassandra's exquisite older sister Rose (Rose Byrne) who rails against their fate and hopes to marry for money; and their bohemian stepmother, Topaz (Tara Fitzgerald), an ex-model still apt to sun-bathe in the nude. The possibility of salvation seems to loom in the form of their wealthy American landlord Simon Cotton (Henry Thomas) and his brother Neil (Marc Blucas). Although Simon initially turns her away, Rose is determined to make him fall in love with her and succeeds. A wedding is arranged and Cassandra appears left on the sidelines. But events spiral out of control, and before the summer ends many expectations will have been overturned.

Production
Parts of the film were shot in Laxey film studio on the Isle of Man. Manorbier Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, supplied exteriors for the castle, and Eltham Palace in London some interiors.

Main cast

 * Romola Garai as Cassandra Mortmain
 * Henry Thomas as Simon Cotton
 * Rose Byrne as Rose Mortmain
 * Bill Nighy as James Mortmain
 * Richard Shelton as The Crooner
 * Tara Fitzgerald as Topaz Mortmain
 * Marc Blucas as Neil Cotton
 * Henry Cavill as Stephen Colley
 * Sinéad Cusack as Elspeth Cotton
 * Joe Sowerbutts as Thomas Mortmain
 * James Faulkner as Aubrey Fox-Cotton
 * Sarah Woodward as Leda Fox-Cotton
 * David Bamber as the Vicar
 * Helena Little as Mother

Reception
Based on 81 reviews collected by the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of critics gave I Capture the Castle a positive review, with an average rating of 6.7/10.