"Wives and Daughters" (1999) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Britain | Loss Of Son | Loss Of Mother | Brother Brother Relationship | Country Life

Awards:

8 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Justine Waddell	...	Molly Gibson (4 episodes, 1999)
Bill Paterson	...	Mr. Gibson (4 episodes, 1999)
Francesca Annis	...	Hyacinth Gibson (4 episodes, 1999)
Keeley Hawes	...	Cynthia Kirkpatrick (4 episodes, 1999)
Tom Hollander	...	Osborne Hamley (4 episodes, 1999)
Anthony Howell	...	Roger Hamley (4 episodes, 1999)
Michael Gambon	...	Squire Hamley (4 episodes, 1999)
Barbara Flynn	...	Miss Browning (4 episodes, 1999)
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Phoebe (4 episodes, 1999)
Iain Glen	...	Mr. Preston (4 episodes, 1999)
Peter Copley	...	Robinson (4 episodes, 1999)
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Lady Cumnor (4 episodes, 1999)
Emily McKenzie	...	Maria (4 episodes, 1999)
Ian Carmichael	...	Lord Cumnor (3 episodes, 1999)
Rosamund Pike	...	Lady Harriet Cumnor (3 episodes, 1999)
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mrs. Goodenough (3 episodes, 1999)
Tonia Chauvet	...	Aimée (3 episodes, 1999)
Shaughan Seymour	...	Lord Hollingford (3 episodes, 1999)
Georgie Glen	...	Miss Hornblower (3 episodes, 1999)
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	St. Hilaire (3 episodes, 1999)
Fred Pearson	...	Mr Sheepshanks / ... (3 episodes, 1999)
Jacqueline Pilton	...	Mrs. Dawes (3 episodes, 1999)
Jemima Rooper	...	Lizzie Goodenough (3 episodes, 1999)
Richard Coyle	...	Mr. Coxe (2 episodes, 1999)
Penelope Wilton	...	Mrs. Hamley (2 episodes, 1999)
Matthew Lloyd Davies	...	Mr. Roscoe (2 episodes, 1999)
Keeley Flanders	...	Fanny Goodenough (2 episodes, 1999)
Gordon Gostelow	...	Williams (2 episodes, 1999)
Dilys Hamlett	...	The Duchess (2 episodes, 1999)
Ben Illis	...	Mr Wynne (2 episodes, 1999)
Dariel Pertwee	...	Lady Cuxhaven (2 episodes, 1999)
Tim Wallers	...	Mr. Henderson (2 episodes, 1999)
Steven Webb	...	William Goodenough (2 episodes, 1999)

Runtime:

301 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:U | USA:TV-PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The dot-patterned beige muslin day dress with puffy sleeves Barbara Flynn wears at the Towers in the opening scene is the same costume Joanna David (Mrs. Gardiner) wears at the Inn at Lambton in "Pride and Prejudice" (1995), Greta Scacchi (Mrs. Weston) wears at Randalls in Emma (1996), and Georgia King (Pet Meagles) wears on the wharf in "Little Dorrit" (2008).

Quotes:

[Roger's letter to Cynthia]
Roger Hamley: It is sundown Cynthia. They are singing outside my tent. The men say it's about a chap who pines for a girl in a distant land. They are teasing me of course - they often do.

Soundtrack:

Tu t'en repentiras, Colin

Superb!!! A must see!

"Wives and Daughters" is adapted from the unfinished Victorian novel of Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell and is produced by the same creative geniuses that gave us A&E/BBC's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice."

"Wives and Daughters" is adapted from the unfinished Victorian novel of Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell and is produced by the same creative geniuses that gave us A&E/BBC's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice."

This story centers around girl-next-door Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell of "Mansfield Park," "Tess" and "Great Expectations") and her father, the town doctor (Bill Patterson). Their idyllic lives are turned upside down when Mr. Gibson remarries the selfish, self-absorbed Claire Fitzpatrick (Francesca Annis) and her beautiful daughter Cynthia (Keeley Hawes of "Our Mutual Friend") join the household. The brothers Osborne (Tom Hollander) and Roger (handsome newcomer Anthony Howell who reminds me of a young Mel Gibson) Hamley add romantic interest to the tale. However, the Hamleys come from old English stock and the squire Hamley (veteran actor Michael Gambon) desires his sons to marry into "wealthy old English families." Before long, Molly falls for Roger and Roger falls for Cynthia and we, the viewers, find some surprising discoveries along the way!!

Memorable supporting characters include the goodhearted Browning sisters, town gossip Mrs. Goodenough, mysterious Mr. Preston (Iain Glen) and the aristocratic Cumnor family. Justine Waddell is luminous as Molly and Michael Gambon and Francesca Annis turn in memorable performances. The scenery, costumes and production values are all excellent. Screenwriter Andrew Davies - who also penned P&P - gives us a satisfying, romantic new ending that would make Mrs. Gaskell proud. I loved every moment of this adaptation! If you are an Anglophile, enjoy a great love story or are a fan of Mrs. Gaskell, this is the film for you!!