Wide Sargasso Sea (1993)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

John Duigan

Writers:

Jan Sharp (writer) and
Carole Angier (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

16 April 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young female landowner in 1840s Jamaica marries a just-arrived Englishman to avoid losing her property...

Plot Keywords:

Jamaica | Gentleman | Horse | Adultery | Colonial

Cast

Karina Lombard	...	Antoinette Cosway
Nathaniel Parker	...	Edward Rochester
Rachel Ward	...	Annette Cosway
Michael York	...	Paul Mason
Martine Beswick	...	Aunt Cora (as Martine Beswicke)
Claudia Robinson	...	Christophene
Huw Christie Williams	...	Richard Mason
Casey Berna	...	Young Antoinette
Rowena King	...	Amelie
Ben Thomas	...	Daniel Cosway
Paul Campbell	...	Young Bull
Audbrey Pilatus	...	Drummer
Ancile Gloudon	...	Nelson
Dominic Needham	...	Pierre
Kevin Thomas	...	Benbow
Aisha King	...	Myra
Anika Gordon	...	Hilda
Elfreida Reid	...	Rose
Bobby Smith	...	Machete Man
Suzanne McMannus	...	Florinda
Pat Gooden	...	Margaretta
Clifford Burt	...	Fraser
Naomi Watts	...	Fanny Grey
James Earl	...	Man with Torch
Kayarsha Russell	...	Cora's Maid
Jenny Wilson	...	Grace Poole
Helen Woods	...	Leah
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael London	...	Abuser (uncredited)

Directed by
John Duigan

Writing credits
Jan Sharp		(writer)
Carole Angier		writer
Jean Rhys		novel

Produced by
Karen Koch	....	line producer
Sara Risher	....	executive producer
Jan Sharp	....	producer

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland

Cinematography by
Geoff Burton

Film Editing by
Anne Goursaud
Jimmy Sandoval

Production Design by
Franckie Diago

Art Direction by
Susan Bolles

Set Decoration by
Ron von Blomberg

Costume Design by
Norma Moriceau

Makeup Department
Leslie Ann Anderson	....	assistant hair stylist
Leslie Ann Anderson	....	makeup assistant
Henry Brown	....	assistant hair stylist
Henry Brown	....	makeup assistant
Faye Clark	....	assistant hair stylist
Faye Clark	....	makeup assistant
John Goodwin	....	assistant hair stylist
John Goodwin	....	makeup assistant
Stephan Hubl	....	assistant hair stylist
Stephan Hubl	....	makeup assistant
Tammy Kusian	....	assistant hair stylist
Tammy Kusian	....	makeup assistant
Norma Mallash	....	assistant hair stylist
Norma Mallash	....	makeup assistant
Jordan Matthews	....	assistant hair stylist
Jordan Matthews	....	makeup assistant
Annette Miles	....	assistant hair stylist
Annette Miles	....	makeup assistant
Noriko Watanabe	....	makeup artist
Karl Wesson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of production
Joyce Herlihy	....	production manager: Northern England shoot
Eric McLeod	....	unit production manager
Deborah Moore	....	executive in charge of production
Gail Rodono	....	production supervisor
Pam Williams	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Cohen	....	third assistant director
Denise A. Lannaman	....	additional third assistant director
Bosie Vine Miller	....	first assistant director: Northern England
Simon Morganti	....	third assistant director: Northern England
Charles Rotheram	....	first assistant director
Jan Sharp	....	second unit director
P.J. Voeten	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Rodney Ascher	....	storyboard artist
Lennox Belvett	....	swing gang
Dirk Braeger	....	assistant to the production designer
Katie Carmichael	....	assistant props (as Katherine J. Carmichael)
Andrew Chin See	....	painter
Kathleen B. Cooper	....	art director: underwater shoot (as Kathleen Cooper)
Roxroy Dinham	....	assistant props
Silbert Francis	....	swing gang
Don Alfred Geyra	....	scenic artist
Leroy Grant	....	on-set carpenter
Susan Henzell	....	property buyer
Michael Howells	....	production designer: Northern England
Alexander Kasterine	....	property master: Northern England (as Alexander Casterine)
George Kellier	....	swing gang
Sean A. Knibb	....	lead man
James Lawrence	....	greensman
Godfrey Lawson	....	swing gang
Michael Mahabier	....	greensman
Eugene McCarthy	....	property master
Drago Michie	....	art director: Northern England
Samuel Moodie	....	swing gang
Donna Noble	....	art department coordinator
Sasha Schnerdt	....	set dresser: Northern England
Fitz-Lloyd Smith	....	swing gang
Richard Solomone	....	painter
Henry Tinglin	....	painter
Berrick Williamson	....	greensman

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Tony Berkeley	....	adr editor
Brad Blake	....	supervising sound editor
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
Harry Cohen	....	sound effects editor
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Thom Ehle)
William Freesh	....	adr engineer (as Bill Freesh)
Brian Geer	....	foley mixer
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator
Cedric Kerr	....	cable person
Peter J. Lehman	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Pete Lehman)
Mike McDuffie	....	sound mixer: Northern England (as Michael McDuffie)
Ashley McDuffy	....	boom operator: Northern England (as Ashley McDuffie)
Steve Nelson	....	sound mixer
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Debbie Pinthus	....	additional boom operator
Ken S. Polk	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Rodriguez	....	director of sound services
Ann Scibelli	....	sound effects editor
Tony Sereno	....	re-recording assistant (as Tony Serano)
Cathie Speakman	....	dialogue editor
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ralph Thiekötter	....	adr recordist: Germany
Jeff Vaughn	....	adr engineer
Ralph Thiekötter	....	sound dubbing mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wilfred Caban	....	special effects assistant
John Peter Dabdoub	....	mechanical effects coordinator
Richard Dowgin	....	special effects assistant
Georgio Ferrari	....	effects construction coordinator
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects coordinator
Denis Zack	....	special effects assistant (as Dennis Zack)

Visual Effects by
Howard A. Anderson	....	boat matte compositor
David M. Garber	....	fire animation

Camera and Electrical Department
James Aspinall	....	focus puller: Northern England shoot
Leslie Barnett	....	grip
Gabriel Beristain	....	cinematographer: Northern England shoot
Paul Borg	....	chief electrician: Northern England shoot
Chris Browne	....	assistant camera: second unit
Gary Capo	....	director of photography: underwater shoot
Kevin Chickanis	....	grip gaffer: underwater shoot
Nico Cummins	....	clapper loader: Northern England shoot
Bobby Earnhardt	....	best boy electric
Vic Hammond	....	camera grip: Northern England shoot
Leilani Hannah	....	second assistant camera
Basil B. Haughton	....	grip
Richard Lannaman	....	camera operator: second unit
Alvin Marton	....	grip
Kathryn Milliss	....	focus puller
George Mooradian	....	additional camera operator
Chris Moseley	....	assistant camera: underwater shoot
Vincent J. Nappo	....	best boy grip
Ian Plummer	....	gaffer (as Ian Plummer Flowers)
Simon Quaife	....	key dolly grip
Dwight O. Ramsey	....	third assistant camera
Tony Rowland	....	camera grip: Northern England shoot
Lenford Roye	....	grip
Alfred Steele	....	grip
Leon Virgo	....	electrician
Keith Wheeler	....	best boy: Jamaica
Ralston Williams	....	electrician
Kimberly Wright	....	still photographer
Danny Young	....	electrician: Northern England shoot

Casting Department
Cecile S. Burrowes	....	casting: Jamaica
Aleta Chappelle	....	casting: USA
Françoise Combadière	....	casting: Paris
Cathy Levy	....	casting: Jamaica
Elisabeth Mackie	....	casting: London
Hajna O. Moss	....	casting assistant: USA
Cyprian Thomas	....	casting: Jamaica

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kimberly Addams	....	assistant costume designer
Errol Anderson	....	wardrobe assistant
Dawn Booth	....	wardrobe assistant
Melanie Ghisays	....	set costumer
Melanie Ghisays	....	wardrobe supervisor
Carolyn Jobson	....	wardrobe assistant
Janet Lucas	....	wardrobe supervisor: Northern England shoot
Gina Ottley	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Thalia Harithas	....	post-production coordinator (as Terri Harithas)
Pamela Hilse	....	post-production administrator
Blake Maniquis	....	assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Bryan Wintersteen	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor
Judd Miller	....	musician: EVI
Blake Martin Moulin	....	assistant music editor (as Blake Moulin)
Jeff Seitz	....	score co-producer
Jeff Seitz	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Billy G. Arter	....	transportation coordinator
Jef Dabdoub	....	driver
Darnell Fenton	....	driver
Leon Glavin	....	driver: honeywagon (as Leon Leroy Glavin)
Steve Gregg	....	driver
John Jarvis	....	transportation captain (as John M. Jarvis)
Oral Loney	....	driver
Donovan Mendes	....	transportation captain: Jamaica
Edwin Patterson	....	driver
Nathan Simmons	....	driver
Frank Smith	....	driver
Dwayne Young-Sue	....	driver

Other crew
LaVerne Anderson	....	accounting clerk
Laverne M. Anderson	....	accounting clerk
Nigel Arscott	....	production assistant
Patrice Arter	....	stand-in
Ron Briggs	....	inventory control manager
Miguel Castillo	....	sewer
Rosario Castillo	....	sewer
Lorraine Crooks	....	caterer
Lorraine Crooks	....	craft service
Trina De Lisser	....	horse master
Beth DePatie	....	production coordinator
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer: main titles
Carmen Franczyk	....	production coordinator
Sarah Gilkeson	....	production assistant: underwater shoot
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Samantha Gore	....	assistant to director
Eric M. Greenfeld	....	production attorney
Franklyn Harrison	....	production assistant
Bruce Hart	....	production assistant
Daighn Jones	....	production assistant
Oscar Lawson	....	assistant location manager
Heather Lloyd	....	stitcher
Michael London	....	caterer
Michael London	....	craft service
Pearl A. Lucero	....	assistant: Mr. Risher (as Pearl Lucero)
Gary McCarthy	....	assistant production accountant
Sally Morton	....	legal assistant
Peter Packer	....	location manager
Sally Porteous	....	consultant: Jamaica
Lenneth Richards	....	choreographer
Alicia Rivera Frankl	....	production accountant
Eileen Robertson	....	first aid
Phillip L. Rosen	....	production attorney
Ron Swinburne	....	production accountant: Northern England shoot
Sonya Thompsen	....	contract supervisor
Glen Williams	....	location projectionist
Marie Wright	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Laughing Kookaburra Productions
• Sargasso Productions

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1993) (UK) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Laserlight Entertainment (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• New Line Cinema (1993) (USA) (all media)
• New Line Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (1994) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  optical effects
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Hollywood Optical Systems  optical effects
• Howard A. Anderson Company  boat matte compositor

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for strong, explicit sexuality.; Rated R for strong sexuality. (edited version)

Runtime:

98 min | Spain:100 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (edited version)

Filming Locations:

Jamaica

Company:

Laughing Kookaburra Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Wide Sargasso Sea (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Minuet

Helpful Explanations

I think that there seem to be some confusion expressed in a number of he reviews of this and a subsequent version of Jean Rhys' most famous novel. Just for information:

1. Creole does not necessarily imply mixed race. Bertha (to use Rochester's name for her) was clearly white enough to appear white and indeed, like Jean Rhys herself, may have been entirely of European ancestry. The mixed race brother, Daniel, was black on his mother's side which has nothing to do with Bertha's mother being mostly/entirely French. He was angry and destructive because his father preferred the white daughter to him.

2. The Wide Sargosso Sea is a sort of prequel but it is also a re-imagining of the back story for Jane Eyre that is intended to take Bertha's character and expand on it with Rhys inability to ever fully reconcile herself to the differences between her origins and life in Europe.

2. While we think of the Caribbean as a dominantly black environment, the origins were Carib Indian and whites colonized the area before the introduction of African slaves. The racial undertone is a more modern view than Bronte likely had. She was trying to deal with the whole idea of foreignness/strangeness and the ultimate solution to the plight of Jane's situation, poor but of "gentle" birth.

3. Of the two filmed versions, the first makes the characters too physically attractive and really misses the novel's stress on the protagonists never meshing rather than loving and losing love.

4. One problem with the casting of Rochester in the first version is that the actor portraying Rochester is distractingly gorgeous and not sufficiently British (apart from his accent). In fact he looks like he rather fits in, in contrast to Bertha's uncle and the other European planters. Of course, the actress who portrays Bertha, even at the end, is so enticing that Rochester's loss of interest is inexplicable.

5. The first film seems to run out of time and rushes the end. Not enough is made of Rochester's anger at being manipulated, whether by voodoo, drugs or circumstances. Once he becomes his father's heir, the return to England should have led to something other than the conclusion. There is definitely insufficient deterioration in Bertha. Their stories are mirror images. He deteriorates and is miserable where she is able to live and she deteriorates where he is able to live.

6. The novels (both Jane Eyre and The Wide Sargosso Sea) have a great deal of narration which is lost in the earlier film and perhaps insufficient in the second. None of the films are substitutes for the books but all are interesting reimaginings.

7. In order to appreciate the Rhys novel, one should read about the author. The same is true of Jane Eyre and its author. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Finally, while not great, the films both aspire to be literary, which means a lot in an age when filmmakers think there is a need for horror/splatter movies and lots of people apparently agree so I for one say thank you for both versions of the Wide Sargosso Sea and all pf the versions of Jane Eyre that offer relief from the current tripe.