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Restoration

Year:

1996

Duration:

117 min

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

IMDB rate:

6.7

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1996-02-02

Filming Locations: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Earnings

Budget: $12,000,000

Gross: $4,100,000 (USA)ITL 144,050,000 (Italy)

Cast

Actor

Character

Robert Downey Jr.

Restoration

Sam Neill

King Charles II

David Thewlis

John Pearce

Polly Walker

Celia Clemence

Meg Ryan

Katharine

Ian McKellen

Will Gates

Hugh Grant

Elias Finn

Ian McDiarmid

Ambrose

Mary MacLeod

Midwife

Mark Letheren

Daniel

Sandy McDade

Hannah

Rosalind Bennett

Eleanor

Willie Ross

Man with Visible Heart

David Gant

Chiffinch

Benjamin Whitrow

Merivel's Father

Neville Watchurst

Latin Doctor

Bryan Pringle

Watchman

Roy Evans

Fleeing Man

John Quarmby

The Chancellor

John Dallimore

The Secretary

Roger Ashton-Griffiths

Mr. Bung

Janan Kubba

Pretty Wench

Henrietta Voigts

Female Patient

Simon Taylor

Second Doctor

Selina Giles

Fair Lady

Susanne McKenrick

Dark Lady

Nick Hutchison

Pinworth

Andrew Havill

Gallant

Tony Gardner

Gallant

David Ryall

Lord Bathurst

Jenny Runacre

Painter Lady

Arne Nannestad

Party Guest

Graham Valentine

Dandy

Anna Savva

Celia's Maid

Steven Beard

Messenger

Simon Carter

Messenger

Philip Babot

Whittlesea Dancer

Ena Cohen

Whittlesea Dancer

Dylan Davies

Whittlesea Dancer

Jim Ennis

Whittlesea Dancer

Russell Gomer

Whittlesea Dancer

Caroline Lamb

Whittlesea Dancer

Margarlda Morini

Whittlesea Dancer

Carole Blade

Whittlesea Dancer

Jessica Cohen

Whittlesea Dancer

Alex Edmonds

Whittlesea Dancer

Stephen Fisher

Whittlesea Dancer

Timothy Hext

Whittlesea Dancer

Philip Michell

Whittlesea Dancer

Belinda Neave

Whittlesea Dancer

Frank Rozelaar-Green

Whittlesea Dancer

Wendy Griffith

Court Dancer

Bernadette Iglich

Court Dancer

Leonni Pallett

Court Dancer

Beryl St. John

Court Dancer

Judy Herbert

Court Dancer

Philippa Luce

Court Dancer

Joanne Redfern

Court Dancer

Wendy Woodbridge

Court Dancer

Lee Asquith-Coe

Supporting Artist (uncredited)

Kenneth W Caravan

Palace Artiste, Scientist. (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Composer James Newton Howard's main theme is based on a music from The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell.

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Ian McKellen and Robert Downey Jr. became friends during the shoot and McKellen was struck by Downey's talent and attitude compared to some of the British cast members. McKellen offered Downey a part in Richard III (1995), stating that casting an American actor would help fund the film. When the release of Restoration was delayed by 18 months owing to story concerns and re-shoots, Richard III was actually released in theaters before Restoration.

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Its two Oscar nominations and wins (Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design) were up against, among other nominees, Richard III (1995) - which also featured Ian McKellen and Robert Downey Jr. in its cast.

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Goofs

As Robert Merivel and Will Gates are talking in the garden, sitting together on a bench, someone (shadowy) is moving from right to left behind the bushes behind Merivel's back.

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When Merivel leaves the Fire of London, he is floating down the River Thames. He is, apparently, discovered 15 miles from Bidnold, which is in Suffolk (unreachable from the Thames)

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When the King shows Robert Merivel his building plans to improve London soon after the plague has started, one of the models clearly shows Sir Christopher Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral, designed and built after the great fire of 1666.

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Quotes

Robert Merivel: Fear is our greatest enemy, and hope is our greatest weapon against the disease.

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Robert Merivel: We need money.

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Katharine: Every man on earth has his leaving step. If my husband had been a small man, he would not have been able to leave me. But he was a large man, and stepped over me as I slept, one great stride.

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