Overview
From its glittering heights to its very lowest depths; a skilfully crafted thriller; an epic feast of characters and storylines; and a passionate indictment of the legal system that is as searingly relevant today as it was in the mid 19th century.
It was first published in 19 monthly installments between March 1852 and September 1853. The TV adaptation, written by the award-winning Andrew Davies, comprised a one-hour opening episode followed by 14 half-hour episodes.
It was shown twice weekly, using the pace, multiple storylines and cliff-hanger endings more usually associated with popular drama. The aim was to return Dickens to the broad audience he originally wrote for.
It tells the story of the icily beautiful Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson), who nurses a dark secret in her past, and the merciless lawyer Tulkinghorn (Charles Dance), who seeks to uncover it.
Then there's the generous John Jarndyce (Denis Lawson), struggling with his own past, and his two attractive young wards Richard (Patrick Kennedy) and Ada (Carey Mulligan).
Like Lady Dedlock, they're all caught up in the infamous case of Jarndyce vs Jarndyce, which will make one of them rich beyond imagination - if it can ever be brought to a conclusion.
| Original Air Dates: | — |
|---|---|
| Country: | UK |
| Genre: | Drama, Mystery, Legal |
| Network: | BBC One |
| Watched by: | 1 982 1 004 019 |
| Total running time: | 7 hours |
| Episode duration: | |
| Episodes: | 15 |
The rest of the actors are so-so and the plot develops sluggishly and boringly.
- Costumes and decorations, twists of fate and a happy ending - when there is not enough fairy tale;
- 30-minute episodes look fast and easy;
- the acting of the older generation (most of them) is excellent.
Of the cons:
- Two or three episodes before the denouement of any situation, one can quite guess how everything will turn out.;
- there were inconsistencies
- the younger actors fall short against the background of the older ones.
ps: Gillian Anderson has captured my heart again. If I could, I would have attached the last shot of Lady Dedlock at the cemetery gate. Very gothic and sad.
The production is incomparable: the performance of Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance, Denis Lawson, Bern Gorman, Patrick Kennedy and many others, costumes, interiors, music - everything pleases the eye and soul.
Charles Dance is an incomparable villain, and Gillian Anderson is just bravo for embodying the image of a true English noble lady!