Film & Television

There have been several excellent adaptations of  Ackerley’s books for both cinema and television. 

 

In 1980 the BBC broadcast a dramatization of Ackerley’s life in its Omnibus series. Titled We Think the World of You, it was directed by Tristram Powell from a script by the novelist Paul Bailey. It was narrated by John Moffatt, and featured Benjamin Whitrow as Ackerley, with Saeed Jaffrey as the Maharajah of Chhatarpur, Kevin O’Shea as Johnny and a dog called Sasha as Queenie. It won a BAFTA award in 1981 and can be viewed on YouTube. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The novel We Think the World of You was made into a feature film in 1988, directed by Colin Gregg from a screenplay by Hugh Stoddart. It starred Alan Bates as Frank, Gary Oldman as Johnny and a dog called Betsy as Evie. Frances Barber played Johnny’s wife, Megan, and Max Wall and Liz Smith played his parents, Tom and Millie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is available as a DVD 

 

 

My Dog Tulip was made into a full-length animated feature, written, drawn and directed by Paul and Sandra Fierlinger in 2009. Ackerley’s biographer, Peter Parker, acted as an advisor and provided additional dialogue. Christopher Plummer voiced Ackerley, with Lynne Redgrave as Nancy and Isabella Rossellini as the vet, Miss Canvenini. 

The trailer can be viewed here 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The film is available as a DVD

 

Diana Petre’s memoir was adapted for Granada Television in 1979 as Secret Orchards, directed by Richard Loncraine from a script by William Trevor. It featured Freddie Jones as Roger Ackerley, Noel Dyson as Netta, Judy Parfitt as Muriel, Joseph Blatchley as J.R. Ackerley and Phoebe Nicholls, Suzanne Burden, and Sophie Thompson as the three Perry girls.