The Ebony Tower

"The Ebony Tower" (1974) by John Fowles consists of 5 short novels with interlacing themes, built around a medieval myth: "The Ebony Tower," "Eliduc", "Poor Koko", "The Enigma" and "The Cloud".

Infobox Film
name = The Ebony Tower
director = Robert Knights
writer = John Fowles (story) and John Mortimer (adaptation)
starring = Laurence Olivier
Roger Rees
Greta Scacchi
year = 1984
runtime = 80 min
language = English
budget =

Plot Synopsis

Henry Breasley is an elderly painter whose secluded retirement is invaded by a brash young artist commissioned to write a biographical study of the great man. Breasley shares his home with two young English girls, both former art students, Diana and Anne. In this strange ménage, David is left in no doubt about his host's views on modern abstract art. However, he is puzzled by the old man's relationship with the girls, especially when he himself is attracted to Diana...

TV Adaptation

"The Ebony Tower" is a 1984 television adaptation of the novel by John Fowles. Directed by Robert Knights it stars Laurence Olivier in the title role of the elderly painter.

Cast

* Laurence Olivier - Henry Breasley
* Roger Rees - David Williams
* Greta Scacchi - Diana, 'The Mouse'
* Toyah Willcox - Anne, 'The Freak'
* Georgina Melville - Beth Williams
* Yves Brainville - Jean-Pierre
* Denise Bailly - Mathilde

Trivia

* Olivier was recovering from pleurisy during filming.
* Filmed in Limoges, Haute-Vienne in France.

DVD and VHS

The film was released on VHS during the 1990s. It has been released on DVD format and is included on the Laurence Olivier Presents Collection and The Laurence Olivier Centenary Collection.

External links

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