Lost Empires (1986– )

from Lost Empires novel re;eased in conjunction with original telecast "In 1913 young Richard Herncastle joins his Uncle Nick's magic act and is introduced to the enchanted world of the ... See full summary »

Stars:

Colin Firth, John Castle, Gillian Bevan

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Colin Firth	...	Richard Herncastle (7 episodes, 1986)
John Castle	...	Nick Ollanton (7 episodes, 1986)
Gillian Bevan	...	Cissie Mapes (7 episodes, 1986)
Neil Boorman	...	Ben Hayes (7 episodes, 1986)
Mike Edmonds	...	Barney (7 episodes, 1986)
Ted Morris	...	Sam Hayes (7 episodes, 1986)
Clive Willbond-Hill		(7 episodes, 1986)
Carmen Du Sautoy	...	Julie Blane (6 episodes, 1986)
John Ballanger	...	Andre Colmar (5 episodes, 1986)
Francesca McGregor	...	Nonie Colmar (5 episodes, 1986)
Jean Marie Segal	...	Gustav Colmar (5 episodes, 1986)
Larbi Slemane	...	Jean Colmar (5 episodes, 1986)
Beatie Edney	...	Nancy Ellis (4 episodes, 1986)
Brian Glover	...	Tommy Beamish (4 episodes, 1986)
Anthony Newlands	...	Hubert Courtenay (4 episodes, 1986)
Emil Wolk	...	Ricarlo (4 episodes, 1986)
Jane Arden	...	Susie Hodson (3 episodes, 1986)
John Asquith	...	Edmund (3 episodes, 1986)
Stephen Brigden	...	Bob Hodson (3 episodes, 1986)
Rio Fortune	...	The ragtime three (3 episodes, 1986)
Brenda Larenty	...	The Montanas (3 episodes, 1986)
Miguel	...	The Montanas (3 episodes, 1986)
Bruce Morrison	...	Ambrose (3 episodes, 1986)
Mike Mosebury	...	The ragtime three (3 episodes, 1986)
Claude Walloon	...	The ragtime three (3 episodes, 1986)
Pamela Stephenson	...	Lily Farris (2 episodes, 1986)
Jim Carter	...	Inspector Crabbe (2 episodes, 1986)
Carrie Davies	...	Peggy Canford (2 episodes, 1986)
Jane Eaglen	...	Lottie Dean (2 episodes, 1986)
Weston Gavin	...	Bill Jennings (2 episodes, 1986)
Alfred Marks	...	Otto Mergen (2 episodes, 1986)
Big Mick	...	Phillip Tewby (2 episodes, 1986)
Kenneth Nelson	...	Hank Johnson (2 episodes, 1986)
Julia Parrott	...	Vesta Tilley (2 episodes, 1986)
Charlotte Plowright	...	Masie Dawe (2 episodes, 1986)
Patricia Quinn	...	Doris Tingley (2 episodes, 1986)
Jeffrey Segal	...	Bosanby (2 episodes, 1986)

Storyline

from Lost Empires novel re;eased in conjunction with original telecast "In 1913 young Richard Herncastle joins his Uncle Nick's magic act and is introduced to the enchanted world of the British music hall. Traveling from one city to the next, assisting at conjuring acts and disappearing acts, Richard comes to know romance, politics and high adventure. The next year, in a true and terrifying vanishing act, the guns of August blast away that world forever."

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Plot Keywords:

tv mini series | based on novel

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1986 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Battersea Park, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (7 episodes)

Did You Know?

Quotes

Richard Herncastle: [narrating] Christmas eve - my first away from home. Not that I had a home any more. But Christmas is the time for remembering it - and loneliness stabs like a pain.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of the Costume Drama: The Greatest Stories Ever Told (2008)

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Soundtracks

"The Honeysuckle and the Bee"
Words by Alb. H. Fitz
Music by Wm. H. Penn
First Published 1901

User Reviews

Show Business, Music Hall Style, WWI

Good but not great depiction of travelling "vaudeville" in England just as WWI commences. The plot is serviceable, but the ambiance and the characters are outstanding.

A diverse group of show business performers are presented in all their individuality and also as a certain generalized type of performer and human being.

The atmosphere is dominated by a somewhat perverse, nasty and mysterious magician, who is Colin Firth's character's Uncle Nick. He is outstanding and sets the tone for the show. Firth is rather bland, but it should be interesting for viewers to see him act as a young man.

Anyone with in an interest in show business, even if it's just an historical interest, will find this series quite satisfying, though not stunning.