Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (1985– )
"Bleak House" (original title)

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

Stars:

Diana Rigg, Denholm Elliott, Suzanne Burden

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Diana Rigg	...	Lady Honoria Dedlock (7 episodes, 1985)
Denholm Elliott	...	John Jarndyce (7 episodes, 1985)
Suzanne Burden	...	Esther Summerson (7 episodes, 1985)
Jonathan Moore	...	William Guppy (7 episodes, 1985)
Chris Pitt	...	Jo (6 episodes, 1985)
Robin Bailey	...	Sir Leicester Dedlock (6 episodes, 1985)
Lucy Hornak	...	Ada Clare (6 episodes, 1985)
Philip Franks	...	Richard Carstone (5 episodes, 1985)
Sylvia Coleridge	...	Miss Flite (5 episodes, 1985)
Bernard Hepton	...	Krook (5 episodes, 1985)
Sam Kelly	...	Snagsby (5 episodes, 1985)
Pamela Merrick	...	Hortense (5 episodes, 1985)
Peter Vaughan	...	Tulkinghorn (5 episodes, 1985)
T.P. McKenna	...	Harold Skimpole (4 episodes, 1985)
Brian Deacon	...	Allan Woodcourt (4 episodes, 1985)
Graham Crowden	...	Lord Chancellor (4 episodes, 1985)
Eileen Davies	...	Judy Smallweed (4 episodes, 1985)
Charlie Drake	...	Smallweed (4 episodes, 1985)
Dave King	...	Sergeant George (4 episodes, 1985)
Heather Tobias	...	Jenny (4 episodes, 1985)
Frank Windsor	...	Gridley (4 episodes, 1985)
Robert Urquhart	...	Laurence Boythorn (3 episodes, 1985)
Felicity Finch	...	Rosa (3 episodes, 1985)
Samantha Holland	...	Charley Neckett (3 episodes, 1985)
Harry Jones	...	Phil Squod (3 episodes, 1985)

Storyline

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:

murder | inheritance | lawyer | court | tv mini series | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Crime

---

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1985 (UK)

Also Known As:

Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House

Filming Locations:

Belton House, Belton, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

391 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last TV drama role of Gerald Flood.

---

Connections

Referenced in NCIS: Heart Break (2004)

User Reviews

A Perfect Dickensian Adaptation!

"Bleak House" is hands down the finest adaptation of a Charles Dickens Novel ever put on screen. Alway one of My favorite novels,I was exteremely pleased with this Television Mini Series. The late, great Denholm Elliot was perfectly cast as the noble John Jardyce and Diana Rigg was sheer perfection as the doomed Ladty Dedlock. The film captures the essence of Dickens era and is extremely faithful to the book,oly making minor plot cuts that do not effect the story. over all a brilliant,moving and atmosphereic film.