The Glass Virgin (1995– )

Set in 1870s England, the story tells of Annabella Lagrange and the terrible secret her wealthy parents have kept from her. When she finally learns the truth, she runs away and eventually ... See full summary »

Stars:

Jan Graveson, Christine Kavanagh, Brendan Coyle

Cast

Series cast summary:
Jan Graveson	...	Betty Watford (3 episodes, 1995)
Christine Kavanagh	...	Rosina Lagrange (3 episodes, 1995)
Brendan Coyle	...	Manuel Mendoza (3 episodes, 1995)
Emily Mortimer	...	Annabella Lagrange (3 episodes, 1995)
Jean Heywood	...	Amy (3 episodes, 1995)
Nigel Havers	...	Edmund Lagrange (2 episodes, 1995)
Sylvia Syms	...	Lady Constance (2 episodes, 1995)
Avril Elgar	...	Alice Piecliff (2 episodes, 1995)
Jack McBride	...	Armourer (2 episodes, 1995)
Darren Newton	...	Willy Fairbairn (2 episodes, 1995)
Harrison Philips	...	Big Fellow (2 episodes, 1995)
Ford Prefect	...	Michael Fairbairn (2 episodes, 1995)
Sarah Preston	...	Agnes Fairbairn (2 episodes, 1995)
Crispin Redman	...	George Boston (2 episodes, 1995)
Catherine Terris	...	Mrs. Fairbairn (2 episodes, 1995)
Ralph Watson	...	Mr. Fairbairn (2 episodes, 1995)
Denise Welch	...	Jessie (2 episodes, 1995)

Storyline

Set in 1870s England, the story tells of Annabella Lagrange and the terrible secret her wealthy parents have kept from her. When she finally learns the truth, she runs away and eventually finds solace in the company of her family's former groom, a young Irishman with the very Spanish name of Manuel Mendoza. Together they travel the Northumbria countryside from job to job in his horse and caravan, Annabella trapped in limbo between her upper class upbringing which has rejected her, and the working class who are sometimes suspicious of her, only Manuel understanding her situation.

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Plot Keywords:

tv mini series | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1995 (UK)

Also Known As:

Catherine Cookson's The Glass Virgin

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Festival Films, Tyne Tees Television, World Wide International Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (3 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Edmund Lagrange: That's right, Annabella. Your mother's a whore.

User Reviews

Painfully melodramatic schmaltz

The only reason to watch this is to see a pre-North and South, pre-Downton Abbey Brendan Coyle. The usually lovely Nigel Havers is painful as a stereotypical villain, and though Coyle too is slumming it, we at least see his charm. Catherine Cookson's characters are two-dimensional, her plots plodding and unlikely, her portrayal of period social mores and class conflict ridiculously exaggerated. The film's so-called foreshadowing is heavy-handed and so is the acting. Not even otherwise talented, well-trained British actors can really rise above the crummy script. There are better historical fiction writers out there worth dramatising, I'm sure, but somehow Cookson's style melodrama and tin ear (for both dialogue and period setting) finds an audience. The discerning Masterpiece/BBC/ITV period drama fan will stay away. I give a 2 only for Coyle and glimpses of Havers.