"Bleak House" (1985) TV mini-series

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
Arthur Hopcraft (adaptation)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

10 April 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

The great case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, an obsession to all involved. Then a question of inheritance becomes a question of murder.

Plot Keywords:

Inheritance | Murder | Lawsuit | Mother Daughter Relationship | Marriage

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Diana Rigg	...	Lady Honoria Dedlock / ... (4 episodes, 1985)
Denholm Elliott	...	John Jarndyce (4 episodes, 1985)
Philip Franks	...	Richard Carstone (4 episodes, 1985)
Chris Pitt	...	Jo (4 episodes, 1985)
Suzanne Burden	...	Esther Summerson (4 episodes, 1985)
Sylvia Coleridge	...	Miss Flite (4 episodes, 1985)
Graham Crowden	...	Lord Chancellor (4 episodes, 1985)
Bernard Hepton	...	Krook (4 episodes, 1985)
Lucy Hornak	...	Ada Clare (4 episodes, 1985)
Frank Windsor	...	Gridley (4 episodes, 1985)
T.P. McKenna	...	Harold Skimpole (3 episodes, 1985)
Robin Bailey	...	Sir Leicester Dedlock (3 episodes, 1985)
Sam Kelly	...	Snagsby / ... (3 episodes, 1985)
Pamela Merrick	...	Hortense (3 episodes, 1985)
Jonathan Moore	...	William Guppy (3 episodes, 1985)
Peter Vaughan	...	Tulkinghorn (3 episodes, 1985)
Brian Deacon	...	Allan Woodcourt (2 episodes, 1985)
Robert Urquhart	...	Laurence Boythorn (2 episodes, 1985)
Kathy Burke	...	Guster (2 episodes, 1985)
Eileen Davies	...	Judy Smallweed (2 episodes, 1985)
Charlie Drake	...	Smallweed (2 episodes, 1985)
Arthur Hewlett	...	Waggoner (2 episodes, 1985)
Cathy Murphy	...	Housemaid (2 episodes, 1985)
Rebecca Sebborn	...	Young Esther (2 episodes, 1985)
James Snell	...	Barrister (2 episodes, 1985)
Donald Sumpter	...	'Nemo' (2 episodes, 1985)

Also Known As:

Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (USA)

Runtime:

391 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Bromham Hall, Bromham, Bedfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Last TV drama role of Gerald Flood.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service: Heart Break (#2.8)" (2004)

Best adaptation of a classic novel

This version of Bleak House is the best adaptation of a classic novel known to me. The representation of the court of Chancery as a 'character' in the drama is magnificent. The acting is marvellous, from the sinister Tulkinghorn, to the Dedlocks, Smallweed, Crooke, Miss Flyte, and the two young lovers. But it is the spider's web of chancery that holds the whole thing together, and the cinematography is superb. What mistake did the BBC make about copyright that meant that this version could not be seen in the UK on either video or DVD for many years? I tried to find out from them, but faced a stone wall. In the end I got a DVD copy from Canada.