Late-Flowering Lust (1994)

Interesting facts

Late Flowering Lust is a television film starring Nigel Hawthorne, based on the poetry of John Betjeman. Produced by Caroline Speed and directed by David Hinton, it first aired on BBC2 on 8 May 1994. The film features performances by the dancers of Adventures in Motion Pictures, set to the music of Jim Parker.

Production

Late Flowering Lust arose from Nigel Hawthorne's appreciation for Betjeman's poetry and was originally conceived as a theatre production by Hawthorne and his partner, Trevor Bentham. However, when approached by producer Douglas Rae, they opted for a film version to keep open the possibility of a later stage run. They proposed involving Adventures in Motion Pictures and inviting Matthew Bourne to choreograph the film.

Filming took place over two weeks in the summer of 1993. The house featured was Benington Lordship, near Stevenage in Hertfordshire. The park and gardens of Benington Lordship and the 19th-century gatehouse also featured in the production.

Jim Parker's music, originally composed for the albums Banana Blush, Late Flowering Love (both 1974) and Varsity Rag (1981), was performed by the Nash Ensemble under Parker's direction. Hawthorne recited the poetry of John Betjeman.

Hawthorne mentioned in a 1994 interview that a stage version was planned for the following February, but it never came to fruition.

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