The final day of shooting (Photo credit: Tony Tilse)
Production of Every Cloud Productions’ Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears wrapped in Melbourne last week after a lengthy shoot in Morocco.
The final block of the 1920-set adventure starring Essie Davis, Rupert Penry-Jones, Nathan Page, Miriam Margolyes, Ashleigh Cummings and Hugo Johnstone-Burt was shot at the historic Werribee Park Mansion.
Director Tony Tilse posted a bunch of location photos during the shoot, to the delight of Miss Fisher fans who contributed more than $1 million in a crowd-funding campaign to the $8 million budget.
Scripted by Deb Cox, the plot follows Davis’ Miss Phryne Fisher as she rescues Shirin Abbas, a young Bedouin girl (Australian newcomer Izabella Yena) from prison in Jerusalem. The sleuth then sets out to unravel a decade-old mystery concerning priceless emeralds, ancient curses and the truth behind the disappearance of Shirin’s forgotten tribe.
(Photo: Tony Tilse)
Brit Penry-Jones is First Lieutenant Jonathon Lofthouse, who carries a heavy guilt after serving in World War One. His life has been a house of cards built on a terrible secret since he returned from service in the Middle East.
Daniel Lapaine is Jonathan’s brother Lord ‘Lofty’ Lofthouse, a man of easygoing charm who served as a high-ranking officer in the Palestinian and Sinai campaigns. His late parents knew Phyrne’s Aunt Prudence (Margolyes).
Jacqueline McKenzie is his devoted wife Lady Eleanor, who also formed a close friendship with Prudence. McKenzie posted on Instagram: “What did I ever do to land in this magnificent company? Led by the effervescent, joyous, mischievous, radiant, beautiful-inside-and-out- Essie Davis and the drop dead gorgeous (Cary Grant eat yo heart out) Nathan Page – I get to sit front row and watch the magic unfold.
“Tony Tilse is doing his thing – building the humour, twinkle, thrill and suspense to pitch. For fans of the show – this movie length Miss Fisher is going to knock your socks off.”
Every Cloud Productions’ Fiona Eagger is producing, with Lucy Maclaren as co-producer. Roadshow will release in Australia.
Rounding out the ensemble cast are John Stanton, William Zappa, Ian Bliss and Los Angeles-‐based Egyptian Kal Naga.
The investors include Screen Australia, the sales agent All3Media International, Film Victoria, Fulcrum Media Finance and Film Finances Australasia.
Tilse has revealed little about the machinations of the plot, giving just one hint: “A movie should have extended sequences where people don’t talk – If you can play it on the radio and understand everything – it is not a movie.”
Another hint, perhaps, is this photo:
