Cold Comfort Farm

TV-PG

Released May 10, 1996

1 hr. 44 min.

Comedy

List

83%

40 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this adaptation of the satirical British novel, Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale), a plucky London society girl orphaned at age 19, finds a new home with some rough relatives, the Starkadders of Cold Comfort Farm. With a take-charge attitude and some encouragement from her mischievous friend, Mary (Joanna Lumley), Flora changes the Starkadders' lives forever when she settles into their rustic estate, bringing the backward clan up to date and finding inspiration for her novel in the process.

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Critics Consensus

Cold Comfort Farm sends up high-minded classics with a wit and impressive restraint that rivals its inspirations.

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Paul G

Just about watchable as the story is reasonable but its just not funny enough. I don't think it has aged well.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

daniel r

Impeccably cast and wonderfully done adaptation of a hilarious classic novel.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

isla s

This is a somewhat dull looking TV film, which is relatively watchable but, as I say, rather dull. However, I liked Ian McKellen playing the over the top minister, 'Amos Starkadder' and it features some other big British names, including Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Rufus Sewell and Eileen Atkins. Its a bit like a theatre production - a slowish plot but with some good dialogue and characters. Its amusing at times but I didn't think it was very memorable - or if it is, it may be for the wrong reason(s) (the overly theatric performances given by one or two people while the rest of the production is a bit dowdy). I wouldn't specifically recommend this film as such, no, as its really not a 'full blown feature film' - unless, perhaps, you really want to see the cast as detailed above. As a TV budget/based period drama, its alright though but not really more than that.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

s r

Eccentric and witty. My cousin said that it was the best movie she had seen in decades and it was a surprise delight. It was a Pollyanna story that didn't dwell on her misfortunes, at least until later when she was highly sought after. This was a confusing part in the plot. Regardless, the quirkiness of English farm, its accents, customs and overall feel kept my interest. It's worth seeing. It was an STG DVD.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

peter w

A wonderful send-up of the earnest rural depiction of D. H. Lawrence and Thomas Hardy featuring a highly confident orphan, Flora Poste (Kate Becknsale) who manages to bring big-city initiative to the hopelessly parochial Starkadder clan. Before they know it, each of the Starkadders discovers new purpose in their lives, and Flora, now finished with empowering her long-lost relatives, is ready to fly off in the great blue yonder for the next chapter of her life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

james e

One of the funniest group of misfits and malcontents ever assembled. This is an oh-too-quotable fairy tale for adults, similar in tone to Nanny McPhee. Shenanigans keep happening until everything and everyone is sorted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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John Schlesinger

Director

Kate Beckinsale

Flora Poste

Sheila Burrell

Ada Doom

Eileen Atkins

Judith Starkadder

Ian McKellen

Amos Starkadder

Ivan Kaye

Reuben Starkadder

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Show More Cast & Crew

10%

45%

House Arrest

37%

69%

The Man Who Knew Too Little

8%

60%

It Takes Two

TRAILER

for It Takes Two

50%

68%

The First Wives Club

0%

20%

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Malcolm Bradbury's script and John Schlesinger's direction ... between them coarsen, soften and simply lose much of Gibbons' extraordinarily sophisticated, wonderfully funny humour ...

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Schelsinger's masterfully directed eccentric satire is based on Stella Gibbons' 1933 book which spoofs the serious, soul-searching, rural-set stories of writers like D.H. Lawrence and Mary Webb.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jun 2, 2006

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

[A] mischievous send-up of D.H. Lawrence, Thomas Hardy and assorted other high-toned practitioners of grimly serious rural romances.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 18, 2014

Full Review

Robert Levin

Critic's Notebook

Rated: 3/5

May 2, 2009

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Sweet, sprightly made-for-British-TV comedy.

May 30, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this adaptation of the satirical British novel, Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale), a plucky London society girl orphaned at age 19, finds a new home with some rough relatives, the Starkadders of Cold Comfort Farm. With a take-charge attitude and some encouragement from her mischievous friend, Mary (Joanna Lumley), Flora changes the Starkadders' lives forever when she settles into their rustic estate, bringing the backward clan up to date and finding inspiration for her novel in the process.

Director: John Schlesinger
Executive Producer: Richard Broke, Antony Root
Screenwriter: Stella Gibbons, Malcolm Bradbury
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Production Co: Gramercy, Polygram
Rating: TV-PG (D|S), PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.6M
Sound Mix: Stereo

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