The Return of the Native
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MPAA Rating

NR

Category

Feature

Produced by

Craig Anderson Productions, Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Inc., Signboard Hill Productions

Distributed By

Republic Pictures Home Video
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The Return of the Native

The Return of the Native (1994)

Genres - Drama, Romance  |   Sub-Genres - Period Film  |   Release Date - Dec 4, 1994 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 99 min.  |   Countries - United Kingdom, United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Review by Mike Cummings

The producers of this 1994 adaptation of The Return of the Native adorn their mise-en-scène with two astonishing beauties: Egdon Heath and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Zeta-Jones is a marvel as Eustacia. Her raven hair, her darting eyes, her manipulative smile, and the ambiguity of her pledges of love all spellbind the viewer. All of the acting in this drama, based on a Thomas Hardy novel written in 1888 but set in 1842, is strong. In particular, Joan Plowright as Clym's mother knows how to nag, annoy, and -- while climbing a hill -- die. Stevenson is a perfect Clym: earnest, thoughtful, warm. And Owen is wonderfully roguish as the bewhiskered Wildeve. The cinematography and costumes are first-class.