Firth, Colin Firth.Colin Firth Career Timeline. Online since 1997. Updated 2/1/02

Info on Firth related videos, books, screenplays, music etc
Please feel free to correct or add information here.

Oscar blitzing films in which Colin plays a small but excellent role.

  1. Shakespeare in Love, Miramax film 1998
    PAL and NTSC format video and DVD available. Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard's Oscar Awarded screenplay is - in Britain - published by Faber and Faber 1999 [ISBN 0-571-20108-3] and in the United States by Miramax books/Hyperion 1999. This paperback edition is illustrated with small black and white pictures from the film.
    Shakespeare in Love - The Love Poetry of Williams Shakespeare, is - in Britain - published by Faber and Faber 1999 [ISBN 0-571-20093-1] and in the United States by Miramax books/Hyperion 1998. This paperback edition is illustrated with many beautiful black and white pictures from the film etc.
  2. The English Patient, Miramax film 1995
    PAL, NTSC format video and DVD available. The film is based on Michael Ondaatje's novel The English Patient. Paperback by Vintage 1996 [ISBN 0-697-77737-7].
    Anthony Minghella's screenplay published by Methuen Drama / Reed International Books, London 1997 [ISBN 0 413 71500 0]. With black and white illustrations from the film.
    Random House Audio books has an audio book which is a movie tie-in read by Michael York. 2 cassettes hours. [ISBN 0-679-42924-7]. Macmillan Audio books version of The English Patient is read by Ralph Fiennes. 2 cassettes/3 hours. [ISBN 0-333-67556-8] 

Period drama in which Colin Firth has a leading role.

MEDIEVAL TIMES

  1. The Hour of the Pig / The Advocate, European film 1992
    PAL and NTSC format video available [The US NTSC version The Advocate is slightly shorter than the PAL version The Hour of the Pig, since some scenes have been censored]

18th CENTURY

  1. Valmont, European film 1989
    NTSC format video available. The film is based on De Laclos's novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuse", published 1782. School for the Visual Arts in New York City has a copy of the film Milos Forman - Portrait which covers the making of Valmont.

19th CENTURY

  1. Pride and Prejudice, BBC/A&E TV series, 1995 
    PAL and NTSC format video and DVD available. Based on Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice.
    BBC made two documentaries: Pride & Prejudice - From Page to Screen and Perspectives on Pride & Prejudice [educational set]. From Page to Screen include brief scenes of filming and rehearsals and interviews with Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle and other members of the production. The Perspectives tape is divided into five sections: Social setting, Relationships, Characterisation, Uses of Irony and Resources. The last section includes the openings of the 1967, 1980 and 1996 adaptions of Pride and Prejudice. The Perspectives tape has the same interviews as From Page to Screen, but in Perspectives the interviews are longer and include interviews with more members of the cast.
    The excellent book The Making of Pride &Prejudice by producer Sue Birtwistle, has a long interview with Colin Firth on playing Mr. Darcy. The book can be hard to find but try to order it online; the Internet Bookshop     or Amazon Books.
    Pride and Prejudice music score is available on cassette and CD. This recording contains Carl Davis' music [not the period dance music or music by other composers used in the TV series]. EMI/Angel Records/BBC [7243 8 36090 2 4].
    Information on the period dance music can be found online.
    The British Tourist Authority has published a Movie Map: Film and TV Locations in Britain. The map shows 186 locations including those used for Pride and Prejudice.
  2. Camille, film 1984 
    NTSC video. Based on Alexander Dumas's (fils) novel, which you'll find online. Translated paperback edition of Dumas's novel, with many black and white pictures from this and previous film adaptions, published by Signet Classics 1984. [ISBN 0-451-52398-9].
    The Museum of Television and Radio in New York City has a video of this film available to the public.
  3. Nostromo, BBC TV series 1995
    Based on Joseph Conrad's novel Nostromo, which can be down loaded here.
    PAL and NTSC format videos available. In the United States you can order the six hour video set and a companion book from WGBH, P.O. Box 2284 South Burlington, VT 05407, USA.
    Penguin Audio books has an official tie-in to the four-part TV series. Read by Michael Pennington. 4 cassettes/ 6 hours. [ISBN 0-14-086247-1].

EARLY 20th CENTURY

  1. My Life So Far, UK film 1997
    PAL and NTSC format video available. The screenplay is based on Denis Forman's autobiography Son of Adam [ISBN# 023398593-X ] which is sold by Barnes and Noble.

Early 20th century dramas with some social commentary

  1. A Month in the Country, UK film 1986
    PAL format video still available. The film is based on J.L. Carr's book A Month in the Country, 1980. An illustrated edition published by The Quince Tree press, England 1991. [ISBN 0-900847-92-1].
    Simon Gray's screenplay published 1990 by Faber and Faber [ISBN 0-571-14229-X]. BBC serial (radio?) read by Nigel Hawthorne 1987.
    The music score is composed by Howard Blake. ASV label 905.
  2. Lost Empires, UK TV series 1985 
    NTSC video format still available in the US.
    UCLA Film and Video Archive in Los Angeles has a copy of Lost Empires available only for viewing at the archive. And The Museum of Television and Radio in New Your City has a video of Lost Empires (first episode) available to the public.
    Music from the Granada TV series [themes and songs] may be found in Britain on CD and cassette: CDTER 1119/CD, ZC TER 1119/cassette. May no longer be available.  In the United States at Musical Heritage Society (Ocean, N.J.) - MHS 512346 & MHS 5123456F/cassette, MHC 312346/CD MHS. May no longer be available.
  3. Another Country, UK film 1983
    PAL format video available.

Romantic comedies.

  1. The Importance of Being Earnest, UK film 2001
    In production. Based on Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest.
  2. Relative Values, UK film 2001
    Based on Noel Coward's play Relative Values. Theatre release April 2000. PAL and NTSC format video and DVD available.
  3. Fever Pitch, UK film 1996
    PAL and NTSC format video and DVD available. The film is based on Nick Hornby's book Fever Pitch, first published 1992. Indigo paperback edition 1996 [ISBN 0 575 40015 3].
    Nick Hornby's screenplay published by Indigo 1997 [ISBN 0 575 40084 6]. The screenplay include an introduction with many glimpses from the filming and comments about Colin Firth, plus black and white photos from the film.
    The soundtrack has some film dialogues and monologues with Colin Firth and Mark Strong. Music include Van Morrison, Lisa Stansfield, The Who and many more. CD sleeve include six small color pics from the film. Warner Music UK Ltd 1997. [WE833/0630-18453-2/LC4281].
    Much of the Fever Pitch football [soccer] lingo is translated and explained here.
  4. Bridget Jones's Diary
    Loosely based on Helen Fielding's novels Bridget Jones's Diary [Picador UK: ISBN 0-330-33277-5] and The Edge of Reason [Picador UK: ISBN 0-330-37323-4]. Theatre release April 2001. Video and DVD release planned for the fall 2001 in the US? Different CD versions of the music score sold in the US, the UK and Europe [Mercury Records]. More info on the BJD music score here.

Quality social commentary films which may be hard to watch but are necessary viewing to appreciate the diversity and talent of Colin Firth, the actor.

  1. Tumbledown, UK TV film 1987
    No video or DVD release. The National Film and Theatre in London has Tumbledown for viewing. Charles Wood's screenplay is published by Penguin Books in England 1987. 
  2. Hostages, HBO TV film 1992
    NTSC format video available. Brian Keenan's wrote an award winning book An Evil Cradling, about his time as one of the hostages depicted in the film. Vintage 1993 [ISBN 0 09 999030 X]. The book is also is available as audio book, read by the author himself. 2 hours and 20 minutes. BBC Radio Collection [ISBN 0-563-39442-0]
  3. Conspiracy, HBO/BBC TV film, 2001
    Based on the only surviving Wannsee protocol of the 90-minute meeting January 20, 1942, of 15 members of the German High Command decided on the annihilation of over four million Jews - by industrialized murder. Read the Wannsee protocol here. Video/DVD not available. Yet.
  4. Donovan Quick, BBC TV film 1999
    Losely based on Cervantes Don Quixote, which can be down loaded here. Video/DVD not available yet.

Character roles 1: tortured souls, done so well by Colin Firth.

  1. Apartment Zero, Argentinian film 1988
    NTSC and PAL videos available.
  2. Master of the Moor, UK TV series 1993
    Not available on video or DVD.

Character Roles 2: See the range of Colin Firth's acting.

  1. Wings of Fame, European film 1989
    NTSC format videos may still be around?
  2. Dutch Girls, UK TV 1983
    Not available on video or DVD.
  3. Out of the Blue, BBC TV play 1991
    Not available on video or DVD.
  4. Circle of Friends, UK film 1994
    NTSC and PAL format video available. The film is based on Maeve Binchy's novel Circle of Friends. Paperback edition by Dell publishing 1991 [ISBN 0-440-21126-3]. Circle of Friends music score composed by Michael Kamen: ZTT Records/Warner Music l995
  5. The Deep Blue Sea, BBC TV 1994
    Not available on video or DVD.
  6. The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, BBC TV play 1995
    Not available on video or DVD.

Colin Firth not used to full potential, in a less than good production.

  1. The Secret Laughter of Women, UK film 1997
    Only available on PAL video... so far.
  2. A Thousand Acres, USA film 1996
    NTSC and PAL video available. The film is based on Jane Smiley's novel A Thousand Acres. Paperback edition published by Ivy Books/Ballantines Books USA 1996. [ISBN 0-8041-1576-1] Simon and Schuster Audio book read by Kathy Bates. Smiley's novel is loosely based on Shakespeare's King Lear, which can be down loaded here.
  3. Femme Fatale, USA film 1990
    NTSC format video available.
  4. Playmaker, USA film
    NTSC format video available

Colin Firth has only a few minutes screen time

  1. Blackadder Back and Forth, TV film 1999/2000
    PAL video available
  2. Crown Court, one episode in a UK TV soap 1983
  3. Nineteen Nineteen, UK film 1984 
    The British Film Institute in London at has a copy [in their National Film and Television Archive] of Nineteen Nineteen available for viewing.
  4. The Secret Garden, UK film 1986
    The Museum of Television and Radio in New York City has a video of this film available to the public.
  5. Tales from the Hollywood Hills, one episode of an US TV series 1987
    The Museum of Television and Radio in New York City has a video available to the public.
  6. Turn of the Screw, BBC TV film 2000
    PAL video available. Written by Henry James, can be down loaded from the Gutenberg project online.

 

Plays

  1. Another Country London stage 1983
  2. The Doctors Dilemma, London stage 1984
  3. The Lonely Road, London stage 1985
  4. Two Planks and a Passion, BBC radio play 1986
    Written by Anthony Minghella, published in England. [ISBN 0 573 01604 6]
  5. The One Before The Last, BBC radio play 1987. About the British poet Rupert Brooke's last years. Brooke's poetry is published online.
  6. Desire under the Elms, London stage 1987
    Eugene O'Neill's play published in England by Nick Hern Books/Royal National Theatre. Introduction by Christine Dymkowski. [ISBN 1 84549 136 3].
  7. The Caretaker, London stage 1991
  8. Chatsky, London stage and tour 1993
  9. Three Days of Rain, London stage 1999/2000.
    Richard Greenburg's play is one of six included in a volume called Plays From South Coast Repertory, Volume Two, published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.

Audio book

  1. Comeback, audio book 1992 
    Written by Dick Francis, read by Colin Firth. Random Century Audio books 1/92 Two cassettes [ISBN 1856860663]. No longer available. 

Short story

  1. The Department of Nothing, short story 2000.
    Written by Colin Firth, published in the anthology Speaking with the Angel, edited by Nick Hornby, Penguin Books 2000. ISBN 0-1402-9779-0.

Upcoming Firth-films on television...

  1. ... in the USA: offsite listing here

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