The Countess Alice
The Countess Alice is a 1992[1] BBC[2] made for television drama film directed by Moira Armstrong and features Wendy Hiller, Zoë Wanamaker and Duncan Bell. This was Wendy Hiller's last film role. It was made with the support of WGBH-Boston and shown on the American PBS network in 1993. It was written by Allan Cubitt as part of the BBC Screenplay anthology TV series.
Synopsis
In 1935 a young English society woman caused a stir by marrying a German aristocrat and moving to live with him in Germany. Many decades later, shortly after German reunification, her daughter decides to make a trip to the family's former estate in East Germany.[1] However, she discovers the grave of a child with her name in the family plot. Back in Britain, she forces a confession from her mother that she is not her natural daughter. The 'real' Konstanza had been shot by the invading Russians, and the Countess had been forced to take the daughter of a dying couple to save the child's life. She is unable to recall anything about Connie's real background. A breach between the two women is followed by a reconciliation.
Cast
- Wendy Hiller ... Countess Alice von Holzendorf
- Zoë Wanamaker ... Connie
- Duncan Bell ... Nick Black
- Patricia Quinn ... Margot
- Lucinda Fisher ... Jane
- Sylvia Barter ... Tilly
- Madge Ryan ... Beattie
- Chris Stanton ... Vicar
- Martin Wimbush ... Jeremy
- Hannah Cresswell ... Debbie
- James Appleby ... Cab Driver
- Terence Donovan ... Himself
- Sarah Crowden ... Sarah
- Jan Van Hool ... Vivian
- Wolf Kahler ... Werner
- Alexander Torriglia ... Restaurant Manager
- Carl Duering ... German Taxi Driver
- Michael Wolf ... Caretaker
References
- 1 2 "Screenplay: The Countess Alice", BFI Film and TV database
- ↑ "Screenplay: The Countess Alice TV Transmission", BFI film and TV database