"Vanity Fair" (1987) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 September 1987 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

16 half-hour episodes. In the time of Napoleon, Becky Sharp, a poor orphan girl, schemes for money and position...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Eve Matheson	...	Rebecca Sharp (16 episodes, 1987)
Rebecca Saire	...	Amelia Sedley (15 episodes, 1987)
Simon Dormandy	...	William Dobbin (12 episodes, 1987)
Jack Klaff	...	Rawdon Crawley (12 episodes, 1987)
David Swift	...	Mr. Sedley (11 episodes, 1987)
James Saxon	...	Joseph 'Jos' Sedley (10 episodes, 1987)
Gillian Raine	...	Mrs. Sedley (9 episodes, 1987)
Benedict Taylor	...	George Osborne (9 episodes, 1987)
Shaughan Seymour	...	Pitt Crawley (8 episodes, 1987)
Philippa Urquhart	...	Miss Briggs (8 episodes, 1987)
Freddie Jones	...	Sir Pitt Crawley (7 episodes, 1987)
Ray Mort	...	Raggles (7 episodes, 1987)

Runtime:

UK:35 min (16 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Patrick Troughton was booked to play a major role but died before filming.

Movie Connections:

Version of Vanity Fair (1923)

by far the best version

It's been great seeing this series again after twenty years. Eve Matheson plays Becky Sharp to perfection, from the early episodes where she seems sweet enough, to the devious schemer in the Napoleonic wars. In support, Rebecca Saire is a good Amelia, while Jack Klaff and Benedict Taylor play Rawdon and George very well. Sian Phillips, Freddie Jones, David Swift, and others also add good value.

Despite its continued unavailability, this is the best version to see. Far truer to the book than the 60s and 90s version, and much better than the Reece Witherspoon film (although that had its compensations outside of its status as an 'adaptation'). From the cartoon credits and trumpet theme through to its colour, life, and energy, this 'Vanity Fair' is special.