Lorna Doone

Lorna Doone
Release Date: 11 March 2001 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG

A classic tale of two people falling in love under seemingly insurmountable difficulties. This film is an adaptation of Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor by Richard D. Blackmore; a novel first published anonymously in 1869.

Set in the late 17th century, Lorna Doone is a romance written to depict several historic characters in the Exmoor region near the areas of Somerset and Devon in not so jolly (at the time) old England.

Actual filming of this version took place in the rugged and beautiful south Wales mountain range known as the Brecon Beacons.

Although Lorna Doone was set in Exmoor by the original author, this made for TV movie was filmed more than 150 miles north to prevent disruption of Exmoor tourism and to have a water fall for the movie. Not all locals were pleased.

Colin Gorey won an RTS Television Award for Best Visual Effects - Special for his work on Lorna Doone.

While it's not Exmoor, it is a beautiful location for those of us who don't know the difference. The land is so different there than here in the Midwest and seems to go on forever without much noticeable habitation.

I first purchased this movie as a VHS tape at a garage sale and just loved it. I didn't yet pay attention to Martin Clunes although I remembered his character when I watched it again recently. I'm glad to have it on a DVD release now too.

Lorna Doone on YouTube

Historical drama, love story, war, beautiful locations, superb acting and costumes - this movie really has it all going on. It's a very lovely movie with a lot of action. There are some scenes of violence that could be hard on small children but your teenagers will enjoy it as much as the adults.

If you are building a Martin Clunes DVD collection like I am then you'll want to get a copy of Lorna Doone for sure.

Lorna Doone Movie Cast List

Martin Clunes

Jeremy Stickles

Richard Coyle

John Ridd

Aidan Gillen

Carver Doone

Amelia Warner

Lorna Doone

Anthony Calf

Tom Faggus