Nicholas Farrell	Henry Thornton
Albert Finney	John Newton
Tom Fisher	John Ramsay
Michael Gambon	Lord Charles Fox
Ciarán Hinds	Lord Tarleton
Ioan Gruffudd	William Wilberforce
Romola Garai	Barbara Spooner
Benedict Cumberbatch	Pitt the Younger
Richard Bailey	Clerk
Alex Blake	Heckler
Stephen Campbell Moore	James Stephen
Nicholas Day	William Dolben
Rufus Sewell	Thomas Clarkson
Youssou N'Dour	Olaudah Equiano
Toby Jones	Duke of Clarence
Sylvestra Le Touzel	Marianne Thornton
Jeremy Swift	Richard the Butler
Bill Paterson	Lord Dundas
Georgie Glen	Hannah More
Nicholas Woodeson	Harrison
Richard Ridings	Speaker of the House
David Hunt	Lord Camden

Director	Michael Apted
Producer	Terrence Malick Jeanney Kim Ken Wales Edward R. Pressman James Clayton Mark Cooper Patricia Heaton David Hunt
Writer	Steven Knight

In this inspirational costume drama, Michael Apted (49 Up) recounts a period in British history sure to be unfamiliar to most Americans. In fact, his eye-opening biography of 18th century abolitionist William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) is likely to come as a revelation to many Britons, as well. After all, despite the presence of his wife, Barbara (Romola Garai), this isn't a particularly "sexy" story, but it is a powerful one. The title comes from John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" ("I once was lost but now am found"). Newton (Albert Finney) was a former slaveholder, who became a clergyman and spent his days repenting. While America had John Brown, England had Wilberforce, and Newton is one of many who helped the MP to abolish slavery in the UK. The story begins towards the end of Wilberforce's mission when he's sick with colitis and addicted to laudanum. Apted continues to alternate between 1797 and 1789, when Wilberforce was fitter and more idealistic, and ends in 1807 as his efforts come to fruition. Apted and writer Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) do right by their hero. Unlike Amistad, however, slaves are largely off-screen, with the exception of author Equiano (Senegalese vocalist Youssou N'Dour). Amazing Grace reserves its focus for the politicians who risked their reps for the greater good, like Wilberforce and Prime Minister Pitt (an excellent Benedict Cumberbatch), and those more concerned with the income slavery provided their constituents, like Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Edition Details Audience Rating PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Country UK Language English Distributor 20th Century Fox Edition REGION 1 Barcode 024543444930 Region 1 Release Date 11/13/2007 Packaging Keep Case Screen Ratio 1.85:1 Subtitles English; French; Spanish Audio Tracks Dolby Digital 5.1 [English] Layers Single Side, Dual Layer No. of Disks/Tapes 1 Features Audio Commentary with Director Michael Apted and Actor Ioan Gruffudd How Sweet The Sound: The Story Of Amazing Grace Featurette Chris Tomlin Music Video Finding Freedom: A Tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Interactive Discussion Tools and Study Guides

Personal Details Seen It Yes Owner DLC Purchase Price $6.78 Links Amazon UK Amazon US Amazing Grace at Movie Collector Connect IMDB