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IMDb > "The Barchester Chronicles" (1982)

"The Barchester Chronicles" (1982) More at IMDbPro »TV mini-series

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Overview

User Rating:
8.6/10   380 votes
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Director:
David Giles
Writers:
Alan Plater (writer)
Anthony Trollope (books)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Barchester Chronicles on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 November 1982 (UK) more
Genre:
Drama more
Awards:
1 win & 7 nominations more
User Comments:
Alan Rickman is a great virtue - and a great problem more

Cast

  (Series Cast overview, first billed only)

Donald Pleasence ... Rev. Septimus Harding
David Gwillim ... John Bold
John Ringham ... Finney
Joseph O'Conor ... Bunce
Clifford Parrish ... Handy
Wally Thomas ... Moody
Kenneth Keeling ... Gazy
Janet Maw ... Eleanor Bold (née Harding)
Nigel Hawthorne ... Archdeacon Grantly
Cyril Luckham ... Bishop Grantly
Barbara Flynn ... Mary Bold
Angela Pleasence ... Susan Grantly
Denis Carey ... Skulpit
George Costigan ... Tom Towers
William Redgrave ... Samuel Grantly
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Additional Details

Runtime:
UK:55 min (7 episodes)
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Donald Pleasence was cast at short notice after the first choice died. more
Quotes:
Archdeacon Grantly: This appears to be the gist of the matter...
Bishop Grantly: You mean to say, amongst all these documents there is a gist?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Peep Show: Jeremy's Manager (#5.5)" (2008) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
29 out of 34 people found the following comment useful:-
Alan Rickman is a great virtue - and a great problem, 13 November 2002
Author: Fiona Pymont (fionapymont@yahoo.com) from Manchester, England

Alan Rickman was apparently the second choice for the part of Obadiah Slope. I have no idea who the original selection was - but I bet he's been kicking himself ever since!

In the book, Slope is portrayed as a somewhat uneasy cross between a buffoon and a disturbing snake in the grass. Every time he threatens to become too dangerous, Trollope proceeds to undermine him again.

I believe that the reason why Rickman was offered the part is because the director wanted an actor who could come across as amusing and sleazy, yet plausibly creepy - and sexy.

Slope HAS to possess a great deal of animal magnetism, as this is what explains the extremely strong reaction he produces in otherwise respectable ladies of whatever age.

Rickman certainly gets THAT across - in spades. He may not be conventionally good-looking - but he's totally incapable of playing an asexual character.

Problem is, he ends up completely overwhelming Mrs Bold's other two suitors. Any heterosexual female viewer with any sense will keep shouting at the screen: "You daft bat! Forget Arabin! It's Slope you want!!!!!"

I agree, Arabin is far better served by the book than this adaptation.

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