The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (TV 1996)

In her filthy cell in Newgate prison Moll Flanders, dubbed 'the wickedest woman in England' tells her story. Born in the gaol, after her mother is transported Moll is raised by the kindly ... See full summary »

Director:

David Attwood

Writers:

Andrew Davies, Daniel Defoe (novel)

Stars:

James Bowers, Alex Kingston, Nicola Kingston

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Bowers	...	Gaoler
Alex Kingston	...	Moll Flanders
Nicola Kingston	...	Moll's Mother
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Judge
Lucy Evans	...	Little Moll
Anthony Bessick	...	Gypsy
Struan Rodger	...	Mr. Richardson
Chrissie Cotterill	...	Mrs. Fairley
Peter Jonfield	...	Parish Officer
Neville Phillips	...	Magistrate
Maureen O'Brien	...	Mrs. Richardson
Ian Driver	...	Robin
Caroline Harker	...	Maria
Dawn McDaniel	...	Emily
Ken McDonald	...	Mr. Baggot

Storyline

In her filthy cell in Newgate prison Moll Flanders, dubbed 'the wickedest woman in England' tells her story. Born in the gaol, after her mother is transported Moll is raised by the kindly mayor of Colchester and his wife, whose two sons lust after her. She enjoys sex with handsome Rowland, who teaches her that money talks, but, realizing he only wants her as a mistress, she marries his duller brother Robin, who conveniently dies after five years, leaving her wealthy. She goes to London, briefly meeting highwayman Jemmy Seagrove, and marries parvenu draper Daniel Dawkins, but he has huge debts and must flee to France, leaving Moll alone and poor. Moll meets handsome young American sea captain Lemuel Golightly, who marries her and takes her to Virginia and a good life style, along with his mother. They have two children and are blissfully happy until Moll discovers her mother-in-law is also her birth mother. She has married her own brother. She returns to England and poses as wealthy ...

---

Plot Keywords:

brother | widow | newgate prison | thief | sex | 

---

Taglines:

Seventeenth-Century Fox

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Moll Flanders

Filming Locations:

Lacock, Wiltshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

54 min 54 min (4 parts)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This adaptation moves the setting of the novel forward a few decades. In the novel, adding up the dates reveals that Moll first goes up to London in the late 1630s, and begins her career as a thief in the 1660s; in this series, however, these events are associated with Moll attending two plays - "The Country Wife" (1675) and "The Way of the World" (1700). The costumes are appropriate to this later period.

---

Goofs

When Lucy Diver and the two men with her are hanged, a modern shackle connecting the rope to a body harness can be seen for each of the three as they swing.

---

Connections

Version of Sex in Sweden (1977)

User Reviews

Archetypal Bodice Ripper

The novel is the archetypal bodice ripper but the Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders is far more than that. It is a well constructed, well acted, well directed period drama of the type the British TV Industry does so well.

Alex Kingston is exceptional in the title roll, her defection to the States from the UK is a real loss and the cast list is like a who's who of British TV. Particularly good is Diana Rigg.

All in all my words cannot really do it justice, if you get the opportunity to see it then please do. It is really well worth it.