The Secret of Moonacre

Infobox Film
name = The Secret of Moonacre
director = Gabor Csupo
producer = David Brown
Michael Cowan
Brian Donovan
Meredith Garlick
Monica Penders
Jason Piette
writer = Original novel:
Elizabeth Goudge
Screenplay:
Graham Alborough
Lucy Shuttleworth
starring = Dakota Blue Richards
Tim Curry
Ioan Gruffudd
Natascha McElhone
music = Christian Henson
cinematography = David Eggby
editing = Julian Rodd
distributor = Forgan-Smith Entertainment
released = UK 2009
country = UK, Hungary
language = English
budget = $27,000,000 (estimated)

"The Secret of Moonacre" is a film adaptation of the novel "The Little White Horse" by Elizabeth Goudge. The film, which started filming on 1 October 2007, is slated for a 2009 release. The World Premiere was held at Toronto International Film Festival in 2008.

It stars Dakota Blue Richards in the lead role as Maria. She said her character is "very much a lady", which she felt was very different from her debutrole in "The Golden Compass (film)".

The movie is directed by Gabor Csupo, who also directed the praised "Bridge to Terabithia".

Plot

The story follows the exploits of thirteen-year-old orphan Maria Merryweather (Dakota Blue Richards of The Golden Compass), whose sole inheritance from her father is a book. This is no ordinary tome, however – in Maria's hands, its ancient story comes alive. The book chronicles an age-old rivalry between the Merryweather and De Noir families over a set of magical pearls, and as Maria delves into the mysterious tale, she finds herself fantastically entangled in the bitter feud.

Left penniless by her father's death, Maria has no choice but to leave the city and live with her taciturn uncle, Sir Benjamin Merryweather, at his isolated country estate in Moonacre Valley. On her way to her new home with her caretaker Miss Heliotrope, Maria's carriage is attacked by Robin, the De Noir family's teenaged son. Although she is unharmed, the incident gives Maria a frightening taste of the animosity between the two clans.

When Maria arrives at the Merryweather property, her uncle spies the unusual book in her possession, and immediately confiscates it. With the help of the estate's resourceful chef, however, Maria relocates the book and continues reading, finally discovering the weight of her responsibility: she has been anointed the last Moon Princess of the valley. It is up to her to find the magic pearls before the next full moon and end the conflict between the two families. If she fails in her quest, the dark curse following the Merryweather family will destroy Moonacre Valley for good. But is this a challenge Maria is ready to accept?

Cast

*Ioan Gruffudd - Sir Benjamin
*Dakota Blue Richards - Maria Merryweather
*Tim Curry - Coeur De Noir
*Natascha McElhone - Loveday
*Juliet Stevenson - Miss Heliotrope
*Augustus Prew - Robin
*Andy Linden - Marmaduke Scarlet
*Michael Webber - Digweed
*George Mendel - Priest
*Sandor Istvan Nagy - Coeur De Noir's Man
*Oliver Simor - Wedding guest
*Zoltán Barabás Kis - Dulac
*Ferenc Vizes - English Worker

Adapting the novel

In 2008 the director Gabor Csupo talked to "Empire" magazine about how to adaption the classic novel. He had decided to amp up the adventures and magic, and lay down of dresses and sweets.

"We didn't want it ("The Secret of Moonacre") to be like your typical costume movie" said Gabor Csupo. "I told each department to just go for it, follow it to your wildest dreams so it looks just a little out of the ordinary.

Filming locations

The movie was mainly filmed in Hungary, but few scenes were filmed in London in England.

Alternative titles

First, during pre-production the movie was known as "The Little White Horse", which is the same title as the originally book. But the producers felt it would work better if they changed it.

The producers started a Internet poll, where fans of the books could vote for the favorite title, The Moon Princess or The Secret of Moonacre. The most popular title was The Secret of Moonacre, the producers thought it would be great and decided to go with the name.

External links

*amg title|1:396066|The Secret of Moonacre
*imdb title|0396707|The Secret of Moonacre
* [http://www.elizabethgoudge.com Elizabeth Goudge fan page and forum]