Winter Solstice

I used to be a lover of Beethoven's "Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor", the well-known piano composition more commonly known as "Für Elise". But after hearing it played, variation-ed, riffed and mangled more than 50 times throughout this turgid drama, I hope to finish my waning years without ever hearing it again. As for the production itself, so-so would be a fitting appraisal. What's good about it are (1) the penultimate appearance and final TV role of the great Jean Simmons; (2) likewise the final performance of the legendary actor Peter Ustinov (they should have given him more screen time); (3) a glimpse of the excellent Irish actress Sinéad Cusack in her mid-career, and (4) a long look at the very handsome German actress Sophie Schütt. Other reviewers more familiar with the writings of Rosamunde Pilcher have done a better job of bashing this dreck than I could have, so I'll leave off with a sincere thank-you for the life works of Jean and Peter, and apologies to Herr Beethoven.