"Mansfield Park" (1983) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Singing | Clergyman | Class Differences | Uncle | Dancing

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Robert Burbage	...	Henry Crawford (6 episodes, 1983)
Susan Edmonstone	...	Mrs. Grant (6 episodes, 1983)
Nicholas Farrell	...	Edmund Bertram (6 episodes, 1983)
Gorden Kaye	...	Dr. Grant (6 episodes, 1983)
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Fanny Price (6 episodes, 1983)
Anna Massey	...	Aunt Norris (6 episodes, 1983)
Neville Phillips	...	Baddely (6 episodes, 1983)
Angela Pleasence	...	Lady Bertram (6 episodes, 1983)
Jackie Smith-Wood	...	Mary Crawford (6 episodes, 1983)
Snuff	...	Pug (6 episodes, 1983)
Samantha Bond	...	Maria Bertram / ... (5 episodes, 1983)
Liz Crowther	...	Julia Bertram (5 episodes, 1983)
Bernard Hepton	...	Sir Thomas Bertram (5 episodes, 1983)
Jonathan Stephens	...	Mr. Rushworth (5 episodes, 1983)
Christopher Villiers	...	Tom Bertram (5 episodes, 1983)
Gillian Martell	...	Mrs. Rushworth (3 episodes, 1983)

Also Known As:

"BBC Classic Serial Mansfield Park" (UK) (long title)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Finland:K-3

Filming Locations:

Brympton d'Evercy, Yeovil, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The white and blue muslin day dress 'Samantha Bond' (Maria Bertram) wears walking with Mr. Crawford is the same costume worn by Felicity Jones (Catherine Morland) while reading in Bath in Northanger Abbey (2007) (TV).

Movie Connections:

Version of Mansfield Park (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Poor Jack

Delight for the Serious Austen Fan

I will agree with others that the production value of this mini series is a bit low. The acting is very stiff and is some places just unconvincing. For users of digital televisions the picture and sound quality is very low, but understandable since this production was made in the early 80s.

The thing that amazes me most about this rendition is how faithful it is to the book. If you loved the book, then you will also like the movie. I'm sure the costume designer and casting directors looked at the old Hugh Thomson illustrations. This most noticeable in the characters of Henry and Mary Crawford.

Lady Bertram is very much like she was in the book -except for her voice. I found it very odd! Rather overdone in my opinion. Mr Yates had a very strange hairstyle as well.

The locations and set were very nicely done. Sotherton and Mansfield Park are very much like the way I pictured them. There was one scene in Portsmouth where there was a matted background with ships. That was rather cheesy looking but it was the only scene that I was less than satisfied with.

This production lacks the polish of BBC's Pride and Prejudice (1995) but it is worth seeing for the serious Austen fan.