Our Mutual Friend (1998– )

Intertwining tales of love, greed, and secret identities in Charles Dickens's 1860s London.

Stars:

Paul McGann, Keeley Hawes, Steven Mackintosh

9 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Paul McGann	...	Eugene Wrayburn (4 episodes, 1998)
Keeley Hawes	...	Lizzie Hexam (4 episodes, 1998)
Steven Mackintosh	...	John Rokesmith (4 episodes, 1998)
Anna Friel	...	Bella Wilfer (4 episodes, 1998)
Peter Vaughan	...	Mr. Boffin (4 episodes, 1998)
Pam Ferris	...	Mrs. Boffin (4 episodes, 1998)
Kenneth Cranham	...	Silas Wegg (4 episodes, 1998)
Timothy Spall	...	Mr. Venus (4 episodes, 1998)
Dominic Mafham	...	Mortimer Lightwood (4 episodes, 1998)
Margaret Tyzack	...	Lady Tippins (4 episodes, 1998)
David Bradley	...	Rogue Riderhood (4 episodes, 1998)
Doon Mackichan	...	Sophronia Lammle (4 episodes, 1998)
Anthony Calf	...	Alfred Lammle (4 episodes, 1998)
Michael Culkin	...	Mr. Veneering (4 episodes, 1998)
Rose English	...	Mrs. Veneering (4 episodes, 1998)
Sarah Crowden	...	First Guest (4 episodes, 1998)
Cate Fowler	...	Second Guest (4 episodes, 1998)
John Dallimore	...	Third Guest (4 episodes, 1998)
Peter Howell	...	Fourth Guest (4 episodes, 1998)
Ray Gardner	...	Fifth Guest (4 episodes, 1998)
David Morrissey	...	Bradley Headstone (3 episodes, 1998)
Paul Bailey	...	Charley Hexam (3 episodes, 1998)
Katy Murphy	...	Jenny Wren (3 episodes, 1998)
Peter Wight	...	Mr. Wilfer (3 episodes, 1998)
Roger Frost	...	Police Inspector (3 episodes, 1998)
Martin Hancock	...	Sloppy (3 episodes, 1998)
Rachel Power	...	Pleasant Riderhood (3 episodes, 1998)
Robert Lang	...	Mr. Twemlow (3 episodes, 1998)
Cyril Shaps	...	Mr. Riah (3 episodes, 1998)
David Schofield	...	Gaffer Hexam (2 episodes, 1998)
Heather Tobias	...	Mrs. Wilfer (2 episodes, 1998)
Catriona Yuill	...	Lavinia Wilfer (2 episodes, 1998)
Linda Bassett	...	Abby Potterson (2 episodes, 1998)
Edna Doré	...	Betty Higden (2 episodes, 1998)
Willie Ross	...	Mr. Dolls (2 episodes, 1998)
Richard Stirling	...	Reverend (2 episodes, 1998)
Richard Hanson	...	George Radfoot (2 episodes, 1998)
Eddie Webber	...	First Pub Regular (2 episodes, 1998)
Alan Talbot	...	Second Pub Regular (2 episodes, 1998)
Vanessa Hadaway	...	Lammle's Maid (2 episodes, 1998)
Bertie Shelley	...	Johnny (2 episodes, 1998)

Storyline

The tongues of London high society gossips begin to wag when John Harmon --a young man whose inheritance depended on his marrying a woman he had never met-- is found dead in the River Thames. The fortune passes into the hands of the working-class Boffins, who take into their new home both Bella Wilfer (Harmon's would-be bride), and a mysterious secretary known as Rokesmith. Meanwhile, Lizzie Hexam, the daughter of the boatman suspected of Harmon's murder, is pursued by two suitors: obsessive and self-righteous Bradley Headstone and roguish and lethargic Eugene Wrayburn. An expansive and varied cast of characters create an epic intertwining tale.

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Plot Keywords:

love | river | greed | inheritance | boat | 

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Taglines:

Love in a city where class governs all

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Közös barátunk

Filming Locations:

Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

350 min 350 min (4 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Lizzie is adjusting Eugene's position on the boat, a hand can clearly be seen momentarily keeping the boat steady. It then lets go of the boat and can be seen in the water.

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Quotes

Eugene Wrayburn: My dear Mortimer, you are the express picture of contented industry. Reposing after the virtues of the day.
Mortimer Lightwood: And you, my dear Eugene, are the express picture of discontented idleness.

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Connections

Version of Our Mutual Friend (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Begone Dull Care"
Traditional
Performed by Kenneth Cranham

User Reviews

Rich in Dickensian atmosphere

"Our Mutual Friend," is another well done BBC adaptation of a classic Charles Dickens story, set in the complex London of 1860, beset with the poor, overseen by the unseemly rich with a class structure at it's most delineated.

All of these stories deserve the mini-treatment, to allow us into the sprawl of the period and soak up its language and atmosphere and this is right up there with the best of them. The waterfront sets are magnificent as are the sets for the refuse dump where a lot of the action takes place. The cast is enormous and includes many recognised British names, from Timothy Spall, one of my personal favourites, to Margaret Tyzack, another favourite from the original "Forsyte Saga" series.

Each character is well drawn and complex in all its humanity and struggle for survival. Keely Hawes shines as a woman ill suited to a life on the river, retrieving drowned corpses for their clothes and possessions, and as her counterpart, Anna Friel is sparkling with wit and beauty as a poverty stricken woman striving to acquire a rich husband.

The script is authentic to Dickens and the era, underlaid with a haunting musical score and overlaid with a cinematography that sweeps from the multi-layered greys of the slums and river life to the lush English gardens of the well-to-do and their sumptuous parties.

Much like the mini "Pride and Prejudice", all the plot lines sweep to a happy, clean and simple denouement in the end, but the ride is sure-footed with many interesting characters to bewitch and fascinate along the way and a suspenseful drama to hold interest.

9 out of 10 and not to be missed.