The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (film)

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Directed by Stuart Orme
Produced by Raymond Day (associate producer)
Mark Forstater (producer)
Written by Joan Aiken (book)
William M. Akers (screenplay)
Starring Stephanie Beacham
Mel Smith
Music by Colin Towns
Cinematography Paul Beeson
Edited by Martin Walsh
Release dates
 1989
Running time
 92 min (USA)
93 min (UK)
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a 1989 film directed by Stuart Orme with a screenplay by William M. Akers. The cast includes Stephanie Beacham as Miss Slighcarp, Mel Smith as Mr. Grimshaw, Richard O'Brien as James, and Jane Horrocks as Pattern. Newcomers Emily Hudson and Aleks Darowska played Bonnie and Sylvia. The film is an adaptation of the 1962 book of the same name written by Joan Aiken

Plot

The film is set in an alternative-history version of nineteenth century England where packs of wolves roam the countryside.

Bonnie Willoughby is the spoiled daughter of Lord and Lady Willoughby, who live at the country estate of Willoughby Chase. Lady WIlloughby is ill, and her father plans to take a convalescence to the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, in London, Bonnie's cousin, Sylvia, is leaving her Aunt Jane to keep Bonnie company while her parents are away. While travelling on a train, she meets a mysterious man named Grimshaw. At Willoughby Chase, a woman arrives revealing it to be Bonnie and Sylvia's fourth cousin and their new governess, Letitia Slighcarp. Later, Bonnie sneaks into the carriage meant to pick up Sylvia, taking with her a rifle. When the train arrives at the station, Mr. Grimshaw is knocked unconscious after wolves attempt to attack the train. Bonnie and Sylvia take Mr. Grimshaw with them back to WIlloughby Chase. Not soon after, Bonnie's parents leave for their convalescence aboard the Thessaly. The next day, Bonnie and Sylvia go out on a sleigh and almost are attacked by wolves until a boy named Simon, who lives in a cave and raises geese, rescues them. They return in the night to discover that Miss Slighcarp has dismissed all the servants except for James and Pattern.

The day after, Bonnie and Sylvia catch Miss Slighcarp in Lady Willoughby's best dress. Bonnie demands she take it off and eventually throws a pot full of water on Miss Slighcarp yelling, "I hate you!". Miss Slighcarp then locks Bonnie in a cupboard in the school room and Sylvia sees that Miss Slighcarp has ordered James to rid of all the toys. Sylvia steals the key from Miss Slighcarp who is bathing and frees Bonnie. They discover a secret passage and discover that Miss Slighcarp has forged a copy of Lord Willoughby's will in an attempt to claim the Willoughby fortune. Bonnie and Sylvia rescue the original will. Bonnie pretends to have gone manic after being in the cupboard too long in an attempt to lure Dr. Morn to rescue them. The plan fails as Sylvia is caught by Mr. Grimshaw. They are sent to an orphanage in Blastburn, run by Gertrude Brisket and her assistant Rupert, where they are forced to work in a laundry with dangerous machinery that keeps breaking down from improper maintenance. Meanwhile, Miss Slighcarp gets a newspaper from Blastburn with the headline, "Thessaly Sunk!". Bonnie and Sylvia are locked in a coal room and Simon attempts to help them. Rupert and Miss Slighcarp chase Bonnie and Sylvia through the facility. But Rupert falls into two rollers meant for clothing and gets crushed. Simon and the girls escape in a sleigh, but Miss Slighcarp and Brisket follow in a motorized sleigh. Brisket is killed when Slighcarp pushes her off the sleigh accidentally and she is killed by wolves. Slighcarp then crashes and is presumed dead. Bonnie and Sylvia return to the Chase after James is informed the Willoughbys have been saved and he and Pattern capture Mr. Grimshaw as he attempts to escape. They are chased into the kitchen when wolves have infiltrated the household and so has Miss Slighcarp. She threatens to drown Sylvia in a basin, but is attacked and chased out of Willoughby Chase by Bonnie. Later, Lord and Lady Willoughby return from their recuperation. Slighcarp is killed by wolves and Grimshaw is arrested. The film ends when Lady Jane is invited to come live at Willoughby Chase with Lord and Lady Willoughby, and Bonnie and Sylvia.

Cast

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