"The Devil's Crown" (1978) TV series

Directors:

Alan Cooke
Jane Howell

Writers:

Jack Russell (writer)
Ken Taylor (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

30 April 1978 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History

Cast

Michael Hawkins	...	Richard De Lacy / ... (5 episodes, 1978)
Lucy Gutteridge	...	Alys aged 16 / ... (5 episodes, 1978)
Ralph Michael	...	Hubert Walter (5 episodes, 1978)
Brian Cox	...	Henry II (4 episodes, 1978)
Jane Lapotaire	...	Aliéner d'Aquitaine (4 episodes, 1978)
Charles Kay	...	Louis VII (4 episodes, 1978)
Patrick Troughton	...	William Marshal (4 episodes, 1978)
Ralph Arliss	...	Geoffrey Bastard (4 episodes, 1978)
Roy Boyd	...	Ranulf de Glanville (4 episodes, 1978)
Ian Hogg	...	William de Brieuse (4 episodes, 1978)
Brian Tully	...	Black Monk (4 episodes, 1978)
Christopher Gable	...	Charles Auguste (3 episodes, 1978)
John Duttine	...	John (3 episodes, 1978)
Lynsey Baxter	...	Isabelle (3 episodes, 1978)
Peter Benson	...	Blondel (3 episodes, 1978)
Freddie Jones	...	Bertrand (3 episodes, 1978)
Jonathan Adams	...	Hubert de Bourgh / ... (2 episodes, 1978)
John Atkinson	...	Robert of Leicester (2 episodes, 1978)
Patsy Byrne	...	Florence (2 episodes, 1978)
Basil Clarke	...	Baldwin of Canterbury / ... (2 episodes, 1978)
Yvonne Edgell	...	Nun (2 episodes, 1978)
Norman Ettlinger	...	Archbishop of York (2 episodes, 1978)
Jimmy Gardner	...	William (2 episodes, 1978)
Derrick Gilbert	...	William Marshal (2 episodes, 1978)
Simon Gipps-Kent	...	Arthur (2 episodes, 1978)
John Hallam	...	Robert Fitzwalter (2 episodes, 1978)
Marc Harrison	...	William de I'Etaing / ... (2 episodes, 1978)
Bruce Lidington	...	Arbalester (2 episodes, 1978)
Seymour Matthews	...	Eustace de Vesci (2 episodes, 1978)
Kevin McNally	...	Henry (2 episodes, 1978)
Clifford Rose	...	Stephen Langton (2 episodes, 1978)
Toby Salaman	...	Pandulk (2 episodes, 1978)
Austin Somervell	...	Geoffrey (2 episodes, 1978)
Robert Tayman	...	Gerard d'Athies (2 episodes, 1978)
Robin Timothy	...	Henry Plantagenet (2 episodes, 1978)
Thorley Walters	...	Bishop Foliot (2 episodes, 1978)

Also Known As:

La couronne du diable (France)

Runtime:

55 min (13 episodes)

Country:

UK | France | Switzerland | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Brilliant!

I enjoyed this drama so much that here I am today doing a google search on it, just in case it's available on video (apparently not, dammit!). John Duttine and Jane Lapotaire in particular are just plain stunning in this production. Brian Cox also made a big impression. The set decoration also sticks in my mind. At times it seemed as if the actors had been transplanted to some medieval painting. Why on earth "Masterpiece Theater" has never showed this one in the USA is beyond me. If you are stuck with the Walter Scott or Legends of Robin Hood version of King Richard vs King John, prepare to have your preconceptions shattered here. Richard is shown as profligate and vain, while John is more sympathetically portrayed than you will ever see elsewhere.