"Lillie" (1978) TV mini-series 1978-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

11 March 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Lillie Langtry, trapped in a loveless marriage, takes full advantage of her beauty, attracting many...

Plot Keywords:

Britain | Loveless Marriage | TV Mini-Series | 1880s | British

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Francesca Annis	...	Lillie (13 episodes, 1978)
Catherine Feller	...	Dominique (11 episodes, 1978)
Anton Rodgers	...	Edward Langtry (9 episodes, 1978)
Denis Lill	...	Bertie / ... (9 episodes, 1978)
Peter Egan	...	Oscar Wilde (9 episodes, 1978)
Peggy Ann Wood	...	Mrs. Le Breton (9 episodes, 1978)
Jennie Linden	...	Patsy Cornwallis-West (8 episodes, 1978)
Patrick Holt	...	Dean Le Breton (7 episodes, 1978)
Brian Deacon	...	Frank Miles (7 episodes, 1978)
John Barcroft	...	Francis Knollys (7 episodes, 1978)

Series Directed by
John Gorrie		(5 episodes, 1978)
Christopher Hodson		(4 episodes, 1978)
Tony Wharmby		(3 episodes, 1978)

Series Writing credits
James Brough		(13 episodes, 1978)
David Butler		(9 episodes, 1978)
John Gorrie		(4 episodes, 1978)

Series Produced by
Tony Wharmby	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 1978)
Jack Williams	....	producer (13 episodes, 1978)

Series Original Music by
Joseph Horovitz		(13 episodes, 1978)

Series Film Editing by
Guy Crump		(unknown episodes)
Richard Key		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Anthony Arnell		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Bryan Bagge		(13 episodes, 1978)
Richard Dunn		(13 episodes, 1978)
Roger Hall		(13 episodes, 1978)

Series Art Direction by
James Dillon		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Linda Mattock		(1 episode, 1978)
Frances Tempest		(1 episode, 1978)

Series Makeup Department
Lynda Bayne	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Pauline Green	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Myra Hersh	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Mike McLoughlin	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Terry Griffiths	....	graphics (unknown episodes)
Rosy Guest	....	graphics (unknown episodes)
Philip Meninsky	....	artist: drawings of Lillie in the style of Frank Miles (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Nigel Holmes	....	boom operator (13 episodes, 1978)
Don Chapman	....	sound supervisor (unknown episodes)
Bill Cross	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Paul Faraday	....	sound supervisor (unknown episodes)
Keith Green	....	sound supervisor (unknown episodes)
Alan Mills	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Baber	....	supervising electrician (unknown episodes)
Derek Doe	....	senior camera operator (unknown episodes)
Mike Humphreys	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Colin Innes-Hopkins	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)
Glen Jennings	....	vision controller (unknown episodes)
Barry Noakes	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Frank Parker	....	vision controller (unknown episodes)
Tony Russell	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Ian Stanley	....	senior camera operator (unknown episodes)
Bert Wilkins	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Michael Elliott	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)
Anne Gurney	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Lees Borland	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
David Butler	....	series developer (unknown episodes)
Eric Cooper	....	floor manager (unknown episodes)
Hillary Coote	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Bill Hetterley	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Pat Morgan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jill Powell	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Lee Rowe	....	program associate (unknown episodes)
Mike Smith	....	series idea (unknown episodes)
Geraldine Stephenson	....	choreographer (unknown episodes)
Alan Woolfson	....	location supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• London Weekend Television (LWT)

Distributors

• Acorn Media Group (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Goldhil Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (as Goldhil DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV)
• Just Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1979) (USA) (TV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1979) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

52 min (13 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Euston Station, Somers Town, London, England, UK

Company:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Trivia:

Francesca Annis wore 200 different costumes during the production, each one carefully designed and fitted to her, many embellished with period lace and ribbon.

Quotes:

Oscar Wilde:The truth is that I really do love you, yet it is the curse of my nature that I can desire but not possess beauty. It must always be just out of reach. I've wept for you and for myself.
Lillie Langtry:If you let me, I would show you I'm more real than the goddess you imagine.
Oscar Wilde:That is the one truth that I am frightened of.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Story of the Costume Drama: Affairs of the Heart (#1.3)" (2008)

Engrossing biography of famed beauty/actress Lillie Langtry

Watching this on video it is hard to believe it dates from 1978 - it looks as modern as today in its production values. Perhaps all there is to give it away is the habit of using videotape only for scenes shot within the studio, resorting to film when out of doors or on location (the very poor quality of the film, its grain, washed out colors etc, were typical of the stock of the time and can be jolting when sandwiched between scenes of the impeccably crystal clear video stock). Francesca Annis plays Lillie with grace, charm and a certain calculated iron will - we rarely like her or what she does, but she is never deliberately cruel or offensive. She is out for number one but manages to make all the men in her menagerie feel she is devoted to their wishes. With almost a dozen lovers under her belt in her long career, she cashes in on her beauty when discovered in the London society of the 1870s and parlays it into the life of the courtesan, eventually gaining prestige by going on the stage and touring America many times over. Annis amazingly plays Lillie from adolescent tomboy through awkward young wife, self-assured celebrity and finally doddering old age - with not a single wrong note. The make-up in the last few episodes of both Annis and Denis Lill (Bertie)are extraordinary. Along the way we have Jennie Linden's marvelous supporting work as Bertie's ex and Lillie's lifelong friend, Patsy Cornwallis-West and Peter Egan's perfect dramatization of the effete and erudite Oscar Wilde. The sets are gorgeous and the costumes sumptuous - each one impeccably designed. This is a most interesting and educational look at an era and the survival of one very clever woman within its midst. One of the BBC's best mini-series.