"Cold Comfort Farm" (1968) TV mini-series 1968-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

22 June 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series | Based On Novel

Cast

Fay Compton	...	Aunt Ada Doom (Starkadder) (3 episodes, 1968)
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Judith Starkadder (3 episodes, 1968)
Brian Blessed	...	Reuben Starkadder (3 episodes, 1968)
Sarah Badel	...	Flora Poste (3 episodes, 1968)
Alastair Sim	...	Amos Starkadder (3 episodes, 1968)
Sharon Gurney	...	Elfine Starkadder (2 episodes, 1968)
Peter Egan	...	Seth Starkadder (2 episodes, 1968)
Billy Russell	...	Adam Lambsbreath (2 episodes, 1968)
Hazel Coppen	...	Mrs. Agony Beetle (2 episodes, 1968)
Charlotte Howard	...	Meriam (2 episodes, 1968)
Sheila Grant	...	Rennett Starkadder (2 episodes, 1968)
John Baker	...	Ezra (2 episodes, 1968)
Jonathan Bilson	...	Harkaway (2 episodes, 1968)
John Golightly	...	Charles Fairford (2 episodes, 1968)
Joan Bakewell	...	Undetermined Supporting Role (2 episodes, 1968)

Series Directed by
Peter Hammond		(3 episodes, 1968)

Series Writing credits
Stella Gibbons		(3 episodes, 1968)
David Turner		(3 episodes, 1968)

Series Produced by
David Conroy	....	producer (3 episodes, 1968)

Series Cinematography by
Peter Hall		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Raymond Cusick		(3 episodes, 1968)

Series Costume Design by
June Wilson		(3 episodes, 1968)

Series Makeup Department
Cherry Alston	....	makeup designer (2 episodes, 1968)

Series Sound Department
John Staple	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Erik Monk	....	lighting technician (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Lennox Phillips	....	script editor (3 episodes, 1968)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• Masterpiece Theatre (1971) (USA) (TV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1971) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

UK:50 min (3 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Version of Cold Comfort Farm (1995) (TV)

mad and faithful to the book

Stella Gibbons' 'Cold Comfort Farm' is one of the classics of parody, and this version with Alastair Sim, Rosalie Crutchley, Fay Compton, Sarah Badel, Brian Blessed, Aubrey Morris and Peter Egan does it justice. Very 1960s in its outlook it is well played and written and has just the right hint of madness. Badel in particular as Flora Poste is note perfect.

Compared with the version with Kate Beckinsale this is much better, and deserves to be seen more widely. Although a VHS did come out in the USA, maybe a DVD beckons from the BBC? It should fit well alongside other classics adapted around the same time, and as it is in colour should find a wide audience.