American Friends

American Friends is a 1991 British film starring Michael Palin. It was written by Palin and its director, Tristram Powell.

Plot
Palin plays Francis Ashby, a senior Oxford professor on holiday in the Swiss Alps in 1861. There he meets the American Caroline Hartley (Connie Booth) and her 18-year-old ward Elinor (Trini Alvarado). Ashby is drawn to them both, particularly Elinor, but is rather surprised when they arrive in Oxford and rent a house. Women are not allowed in the college, nor are fellows allowed to marry, which puts him in an embarrassing situation. Ashby's rival for the post of college president, Oliver Syme (Alfred Molina), takes full advantage of this to try to discredit Ashby.

Inspiration
The plot was based on a real-life incident involving Palin's great-grandfather, Edward Palin.

Cast

 * Michael Palin - Rev. Francis Ashby
 * Trini Alvarado - Elinor Hartley
 * Connie Booth - Caroline Hartley
 * Alfred Molina - Oliver Syme
 * Bryan Pringle - Haskell
 * Fred Pearson - Hapgood
 * Susan Denaker - Mrs. Cantrell
 * Jonathan Firth - Cable
 * Ian Dunn - Gowers
 * Robert Eddison - William Granger Rushden
 * David Calder - Pollitt
 * Simon Jones - Anderson
 * Charles McKeown - Maynard
 * Roger Lloyd-Pack -  Dr. Butler
 * John Nettleton - Rev. Groves
 * Alun Armstrong - Dr. Victor Weeks
 * Sheila Reid - Mrs. Weeks
 * Edward Rawle-Hicks - John Weeks
 * Markus Gehrig - Swiss Guide
 * Jo Stone-Fewings - Undergraduate
 * Jimmy Jewel - Ashby Senior
 * Wensley Pithey - Cave
 * Arthur Howard - Voe
 * Charles Simon - Canon Harper
 * Adrian Gannon - Extra

Awards
The film won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Best film/screenplay.

Discography
The CD soundtrack composed by Georges Delerue is available on Music Box Records label.