"Poldark" (1975) TV series 1975-

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

8 May 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

British officer Ross Poldark returns to his native Cornwall after the Revolutionary War after escaping as a prisoner of war...

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Cornwall | Tin Mine | British | Estate

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Robin Ellis	...	Ross Poldark (29 episodes, 1975-1977)
Angharad Rees	...	Demelza Poldark / ... (28 episodes, 1975-1977)
Jill Townsend	...	Elizabeth Poldark / ... (27 episodes, 1975-1977)
Ralph Bates	...	George Warleggan (23 episodes, 1975-1977)
Paul Curran	...	Jud Paynter (22 episodes, 1975-1977)
Mary Wimbush	...	Prudie Paynter / ... (22 episodes, 1975-1977)
Judy Geeson	...	Caroline Penvenen / ... (19 episodes, 1975-1977)
Forbes Collins	...	Zacky Martin (14 episodes, 1975-1977)
Clive Francis	...	Francis Poldark (13 episodes, 1975)
Kevin McNally	...	Drake Carne (13 episodes, 1977)
David Delve	...	Sam Carne (12 episodes, 1977)

Series Directed by
Philip Dudley		(8 episodes, 1977)
Paul Annett		(7 episodes, 1975-1976)
Kenneth Ives		(5 episodes, 1975)
Christopher Barry		(4 episodes, 1975)
Roger Jenkins		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Writing credits
Winston Graham		(24 episodes, 1975-1977)
Paul Wheeler		(5 episodes, 1975)
Jack Russell		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Jack Pulman		(4 episodes, 1975)
Martin Worth		(4 episodes, 1977)
Peter Draper		(3 episodes, 1975)
Alexander Baron		(3 episodes, 1977)

Series Produced by
Morris Barry	....	producer (16 episodes, 1975-1976)
Richard Beynon	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1977)
Tony Coburn	....	producer (4 episodes, 1977)
Colin Tucker	....	producer (4 episodes, 1977)

Series Original Music by
Kenyon Emrys-Roberts		(1 episode, 1975)

Series Film Editing by
Alistair McKay		(8 episodes, 1977)
Chris Lovett		(6 episodes, 1975-1976)
Dave King		(4 episodes, 1975)
Richard Trevor		(2 episodes, 1975)
Ian Pitch		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Production Design by
Oliver Bayldon		(16 episodes, 1975-1976)
Michael Edwards		(8 episodes, 1977)
Gavin Davies		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Costume Design by
John Bloomfield		(15 episodes, 1975-1976)
Penny Lowe		(11 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Makeup Department
Magdalen Gaffney	....	makeup artist (16 episodes, 1975-1976)
Sylvia James	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 1977)

Series Production Management
Christopher D'Oyly John	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 1975-1977)
Edwina Craze	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Gavin Davies	....	designer (unknown episodes)
Michael Edward	....	designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John Gilbert	....	film sound (10 episodes, 1977)
Peter Mellors	....	sound: studio (8 episodes, 1977)
Neil Glyn-Wilkinson	....	sound: studio (4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Derek Medus	....	film sound (4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Graham Bedwell	....	film sound (4 episodes, 1975)
Allan Haynes	....	film sound (4 episodes, 1975)
Mike Jones	....	sound: studio (4 episodes, 1975)
Frank Radcliffe	....	sound: studio / studio sound (4 episodes, 1975)
Richard Boulter	....	film sound (3 episodes, 1975)
Bill Meekums	....	film sound (3 episodes, 1975)
Richard Partridge	....	sound: studio (3 episodes, 1975)
Clive Derbyshire	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 1975)
Ramon Bailey	....	sound: studio (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Visual Effects by
Peter Pegrum	....	visual effects designer (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Stunts
Peter Diamond	....	fight arranger (5 episodes, 1977)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Alec Robson	....	studio lighting (9 episodes, 1977)
Godfrey Johnson	....	film cameraman (8 episodes, 1975-1976)
Michael Williams	....	film camera / film cameraman (8 episodes, 1977)
Dave Sydenham	....	studio lighting (4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Peter Catlett	....	studio lighting (4 episodes, 1975)
Keith Hopper	....	camera operator / film cameraman (4 episodes, 1975)
John Treays	....	studio lighting (3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Elmer Cossey	....	film cameraman (2 episodes, 1975)
John Dixon	....	studio lighting (2 episodes, 1975)
John Williams	....	film camera / film cameraman (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Editorial Department
John Barclay	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1975)

Series Music Department
Kenyon Emrys-Roberts	....	composer: theme music / conductor: theme music / ... (26 episodes, 1975-1977)
Max Harris	....	composer: incidental music (7 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Other crew
Simon Masters	....	script editor (16 episodes, 1975-1976)
Roselyn Parker	....	production assistant (8 episodes, 1975-1976)
Edwina Craze	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1975-1977)
Cicely Cawthorne	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1977)
Lovett Bickford	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1977)
Geraldine Stephenson	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Thea Murray	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1977)
Margot Eavis	....	video presentation (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• London Film Productions (in association with) (as London Film Productions Ltd.)
• Lionheart Television International

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1977) (USA) (all media)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS) (series 1)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS) (series 2)
• Magna Pacific (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Acorn Media Group (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Series 1)
• Acorn Media Group (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Series 2)
• Acorn Media Group (2011) (USA) (DVD) (The Complete Collection)
• Masterpiece Theatre

Other Companies

• Yacinsky Design  DVD package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:60 min (16 episodes) (season 1) | UK:50 min (29 episodes) | 60 min (13 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Boconnoc, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Elizabeth's full name is Elizabeth Jane Sarah Chynoweth (stated at her wedding to Francis Poldark).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cult of...: Poldark (#2.3)" (2008)

How can you not enjoy this...

OK, so Ross originally fought AGAINST us in our Revolution, but he is one of us at heart. A fellow with an appropriate sense of noblesse oblige, even if he ignores his own safety and interests in carrying it out, is so irresistible. How could Elizabeth have been so foolish as to not appreciate that essential element of his character?

Robin Ellis' performance is so amazingly positive we can't help but feel that anyone who finds themselves on a downward spiral can get it together if they have enough courage and determination. He's a role model for anyone who's even tempted to throw in the towel.

And a big Bronx cheer to the late Louis B. Mayer for denigrating things "where people write with feathers." The period of this story is one of my all-time favorites and not just for the clothes (I challenge anyone to say that the men of this series look anything but appropriately masculine), but for the ideals that were born in it. Sometimes we need to go back to our roots...