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The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous' is a British television film of 1997 based on Jilly Cooper's 1993 book of the same name in the Rutshire Chronicles series, directed by Robert Knights and produced by Sarah Lawson. The title role of Lysander Hawkley is played by Stephen Billington.
With a length of 146 minutes, broadcasters usually divide the production into a serial of three episodes. It is available on DVD.
Production
The producer, Sarah Lawson, had previously worked with the director she hired for the film, Robert Knights, on the feature film 'The Dawning' (1988).Michael Feeney Callan, 'Anthony Hopkins: A Three Act Life' (2005), p. 426 Knights had begun his directing career in the 1970s on BBC television's 'Play for Today' and was in the middle of a distinguished career in television drama and film which had already taken in 'The History Man' (1981), 'Porterhouse Blue' (1987), and 'Double Vision' (1992). His work on 'Porterhouse Blue' and 'The Glittering Prizes' (1976) had been nominated for BAFTA Awards.Jerry Roberts, "Robert Knights" in 'Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors' (Scarecrow Press, 2009), pp. 306307
The casting director did not look for established stars. Stephen Billington, who had the pivotal role of Lysander Hawkley, was almost unknown when he was chosen from the hundreds who auditioned to play the part. Donna King, who played one of Lysander's love interests, had originally been a dancer and had originated the part of Bombalurina in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Cats' on Broadway.'New York Magazine' dated 13 Sep 1982, pp. 5859
The costs of the production were reported in May 1997 as 3,000,000. The publicity pictures portrayed "a smooth young opportunist surrounded by eager women of all ages".'Plays & Players', Issues 501515 (Hansom Books, 1997), p. 104
Outline
In the opening scene, Lysander Hawkley (Stephen Billington), accompanied by a Jack Russell Terrier which goes everywhere with him, is caught making love to Martha (Donna King), the neglected wife of Elmer Winterton (Mac McDonald). He runs naked out of the house and through a garden, pursued by the jealous Winterton with a crossbow, and hides in a tree, where he is found and trapped by Rottweilers.Dave Lanning, [https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120027/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61111733.html Sooper-Stud's Flight of Fancy] dated June 8, 1997, in 'The People' (London, England) at highbeam.com, accessed 6 April 2018
Hawkley is a semi-professional tennis player in his early twenties who is becoming notorious in the gossip columns for affairs with a series of married women. After his mother's funeral, his disapproving father (T. R. Bowen) refuses to give him any more money. When Hawkley then complains to his friend Ferdie (Hugh Bonneville) about the dire state of his debts, they form a plan for Hawkley to take money from neglected wives to make their husbands jealous. This is followed with solid financial success until Hawkley meets Kitty Rannaldini (Kate Byers), the wife of a world-famous conductor. He finds himself out of his depth when he becomes besotted with her.Jim Craddock, 'VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever 2002', p. 458
Reception
'The People' commented on the production that only Jilly Cooper could get away with "a preposterous hero with a name that sounds like an RAF Transport plane". It continued
In 'The Independent', David Aaronovitch noted that "Lysander is not predatory, it's just that every woman in the world wants his first service, and what can a guy do?" Aaronovitch went on to compare Hawkley with Peter Mandelson, "The Man Who Makes Politicians Jealous".David Aaronovitch, [https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/television-the-terrier-gets-closer-than-the-wolf-1254851.html "The Terrier Gets Closer Than the Wolf"] in 'The Independent' online dated 7 June 1997, accessed 6 April 2018
In 'The Daily Mirror', Richard Wallace commented "If Tim Henman thinks the pressure's on as Wimbledon approaches, he ought to try stepping into the tennis shoes of Stephen Billington."Richard Wallace, [https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120029/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61114661.html Anyone for the Tennis Smasher?] dated May 31, 1997, in 'The Mirror' (London, England), accessed 6 April 2018
Cast
*Stephen Billington as Lysander Hawkley'[http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/kxhzt/the-man-who-made-husbands-jealous--episode-1/ The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous]' at radiotimes.com, accessed 6 April 2018
*Hugh Bonneville as Ferdie Fitzgerald
*T. R. Bowen as David Hawkley
*Donna King as Martha Winterton
*Mac McDonald as Elmer Winterton
*Rhona Mitra as Flora Seymour
*Philip Bowen as Guy Seymour
*Gilly Coman as Marigold Lockton
*Nicholas Ball as Larry Lockton
*Kim Criswell as Georgie Maguire
*Ravil Isyanov as Boris Levitsky
*Rosalind Plowright as Hermione Harefield
*Derek de Lint as Roberto Rannaldini
*Kate Byers as Kitty Rannaldini
*Sandra Reinton as Julia
*Nichola Cordey as Nikki
*Stephen Ullathorne as Journalist
*Tim Meats as Priest
*Maureen Bennett as Matron
*Kate Blackham as Waitress
*Fiona Dunn as Waitress
*Joanna Jeffrees as Friend at concert
*Fiona Richmond as extra (uncredited)
See also
*1997 in British television
*'Riders' (1993 film)
Notes
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