"The Pallisers" (1974) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

24 January 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Follows the novels of Anthony Trollope. Beginning with the forced Marriage of Susan Hampshire's character...

Plot Keywords:

Parliament | Rise To Power | Soap Opera | Class Differences | Marriage Of Convenience

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Susan Hampshire	...	Lady Glencora Palliser (21 episodes, 1974)
Philip Latham	...	Plantagenet Palliser (20 episodes, 1974)
Donald Pickering	...	Dolly Longstaffe (18 episodes, 1974)
Moray Watson	...	Barrington Erle / ... (16 episodes, 1974)
Barbara Murray	...	Madame Max Goesler (15 episodes, 1974)
Donal McCann	...	Phineas Finn (14 episodes, 1974)
Roger Livesey	...	The Duke of St. Bungay (13 episodes, 1974)
Maurice Quick	...	Collingwood (13 episodes, 1974)
Bryan Pringle	...	Mr. Monk (11 episodes, 1974)
Derek Godfrey	...	Robert Kennedy (10 episodes, 1974)
Caroline Mortimer	...	Alice Vavasor (9 episodes, 1974)
Barry Justice	...	Burgo Fitzgerald (9 episodes, 1974)
Roland Culver	...	The Duke of Omnium (9 episodes, 1974)
Maire Ni Ghrainne	...	Mary Flood (9 episodes, 1974)
John Hallam	...	Lord Chiltern (9 episodes, 1974)
Neil Stacy	...	Laurence Fitzgibbon (9 episodes, 1974)

Runtime:

50 min (22 episodes) | UK:50 min (26 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Eastnor Castle, Eastnor, Herefordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Hayley Mills was originally cast as Glencora Palliser, but backed out when her doctor thought it would be too strenuous as she had just had a baby. Meanwhile, Susan Hampshire had also just had a baby, but her daughter had died. Susan's doctor thought work would be the best thing for her, so she took the part.

Quotes:

Alice Vavasor: Lady Glencora, gentlemen, has the gift of laughter, which has always been hated by the poor in spirit and loved by the gods.

A rich, Victorian plum pudding of a series

This series was a huge undertaking, of a sort that probably would not be attempted today. It was an adaptation of Trollope's "Palliser" novels, and dealt with a great many characters and intertwining plots. The series worked best for viewers who could take an interest in the fictional politics of the time, as Plantagenet Palliser, like most of the men in the story, is a politician and this theme runs throughout the series. However, Susan Hampshire as Lady Glencora, his mismatched wife, provides a romantic strain as well, though she eventually adopts her husbands concerns and interests as her own. The story from time to time veers away from these two main characters, and becomes quite entertaining as it delves into the complicated life of the scheming Lizzy Eustace, and also that of the greenhorn politician from Ireland, Phineas Phinn. His problems with women and his trial for murder (including a cross-examination in Latin!) are among the most interesting and enjoyable passages in the series. This is a thoroughly entertaining series for those who can just relax into the Victorian atmosphere and are not in a hurry to get to the end.