"The Barchester Chronicles" (1982) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

David Giles

Writers:

Alan Plater (writer)
Anthony Trollope (books)

Release Date:

10 November 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Cathedral | Slap In The Face | Church Of England | TV Mini-Series | Cello

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

UK:55 min (7 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Donald Pleasence was cast at short notice after the first choice died.

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?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Peep Show: Jeremy's Manager (#5.5)" (2008)

Alan Rickman is a great virtue - and a great problem

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.