''Turtle Diary'' is a 1985 British

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

directed by

John Irvin John Irvin (born 7 May 1940) is an English film director. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, he began his career by directing a number of documentaries and television works, including the BBC Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (miniseries), ada ...

and starring

Glenda Jackson Glenda May Jackson (9 May 1936 – 15 June 2023) was an English actress and politician. Over the course of her distinguished career she received List of awards and nominations received by Glenda Jackson, numerous accolades including two Academy ...

Ben Kingsley Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ben Kingsley, various accolades throughout Ben Kingsley on screen and stage, his career spanning fi ...

, and

Michael Gambon Sir Michael John Gambon (; 19 October 1940 – 27 September 2023) was an Irish-English actor. Gambon started his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre. Over his six-decade-long career ...

. Based on a screenplay adapted by

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A List of Nobel laureates in Literature, Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramat ...

from Russell Hoban's novel '' Turtle Diary'', the film is about "people rediscovering the joys of life and love". The film contains elements of romance,

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

, and

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

and has been described as a

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...

Synopsis

Two lonely Londoners - Neaera Duncan, a children's author (

), and William Snow, a bookstore assistant (

) - find common ground when visiting the sea turtles at

London Zoo London Zoo, previously known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens and sometimes called Regent's Park Zoo, is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828 and was originally intended to be used as a colle ...

. Independently, each perceives that the turtles are unnaturally confined, and they hatch a plan with the assistance of zookeeper George Fairbairn (

) to smuggle them out and release them into the sea. Their release of the turtles is a metaphor for their escape from their inhibitions.

Main cast

as Neaera Duncan, a "Popular children's author … fearing her creative talents have evaporated, hoescapes into the dreamy world of sea turtles seeking inspiration in their beauty and grace." *

as William Snow, "a humble assistant in a bookstore where he, too, dreams of the turtles." * Richard Johnson as Mr. Johnson, a neighbor of Neaera Duncan *

as George Fairbairn, the zookeeper charged with caring for the turtles * Jeroen Krabbé as Mr. Sandor, a neighbor of William Snow * Rosemary Leach as Mrs. Charlie Inchcliff, Williams Snow's landlady *

Eleanor Bron Eleanor Bron (born 14 March 1938) is an English stage, film and television actress, and an author. Her film roles include Ahme in the Beatles musical ''Help!'' (1965), the Doctor in '' Alfie'' (1966), Margaret Spencer in '' Bedazzled'' (1967) an ...

as Miss Neap, a neighbor of William Snow * Harriet Walter as Harriet Simms, a colleague of William Snow at the bookstore *

Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne (5 April 1929 – 26 December 2001) was an English actor. He is known for his stage acting and his portrayal of Sir Humphrey Appleby, the permanent secretary in the 1980s sitcom ''Yes Minister'' and the Cabinet Secre ...

as the publisher of books by Neaera Duncan

has a

cameo role A cameo appearance, also called a cameo role and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief guest appearance of a well-known person or character in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking one ...

as a man in the bookshop where William and Harriet work.

Critical reception and analysis

In his 1985 review of the film for ''

The Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, first published on 5 February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Tele ...

'', David Castell observes that Pinter's screenplay concentrates on developing dialogue and plot, leaving clues for the actors to convey their characters' subtle emotional and psychological development: "It is hard to think of two actors better matched to play Pinter than

and

. They milk every nuance, point up every missed beat and relish each irony and repetition in the script. … ''Turtle Diary'' is a fine film that charts movingly the unnoticed despair of everyday lives, the sufferings of those who endure loneliness in silence." The film grossed $2.2 million on its American theatrical release.

Home video

The film was released on videocassette in 1985 by Vestron Video. The film has not been released on DVD.

Notes

References

*Castell, David.
Review of ''Turtle Diary''
''

Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, first published on 5 February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegr ...

'' 1 Dec. 1985. Rpt. in ''HaroldPinter.org''.

, 2000–2003 009 Accessed 22 March 2009.

External links

* * *
"Films by Harold Pinter: Turtle Diary, 1984"
at ''HaroldPinter.org'' – ''The Official Website of International Playwright

'' (Includes production details and excerpt of film review by Castell.) {{John Irvin 1985 films British romantic comedy films 1985 romantic comedy films Films with screenplays by Harold Pinter Films directed by John Irvin Films about turtles Films set in zoos 1980s English-language films 1980s British films English-language romantic comedy films Films scored by Geoffrey Burgon