Wives and Daughters (1999– )

The daughter of a country doctor copes with an unwanted stepmother, an impetuous stepsister, burdensome secrets, the town gossips, and the tug on her own heartstrings for a man who thinks of her only as a friend.

Stars:

Justine Waddell, Bill Paterson, Francesca Annis

8 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
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)
Ian Carmichael	...	Lord Cumnor (4 episodes, 1999)
Rosamund Pike	...	Lady Harriet Cumnor (4 episodes, 1999)
Emily McKenzie	...	Maria (4 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)
Keylee Jade 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)
Charles Simon	...	Old Silas (2 episodes, 1999)
Tim Wallers	...	Mr. Henderson (2 episodes, 1999)
Steven Webb	...	William Goodenough (2 episodes, 1999)

Storyline

For many years, young Molly Gibson had lived a blissful sheltered life with her widower father. However, her world is shaken with the introduction of new acquaintances and situations. Molly becomes friends with a landed gentry family, which includes two brothers with very different temperaments. Meanwhile, her father marries a widow with a daughter close in age to Molly. Eventually, Molly becomes a trusted confidante for her new friends and family; but the secrets become burdensome, as the gossip begins to circulate about Molly herself.

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Plot Keywords:

gossip | stepmother | stepsister | doctor | britain | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Filhas e Esposas

Filming Locations:

Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Dune Films, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

301 min 301 min (4 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The blue and white print gown worn by a guest at the Easter Ball is the same costume worn by Julia Sawalha (Maria) to church in Hornblower: Duty.

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Quotes

[to Mr. Preston]
Cynthia Kirkpatrick: I didn't sell myself. I liked you then, but oh, do I hate you now!

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Soundtracks

"A Trip to Paris"
Traditional
From Walsh's 'New Country Dancing Master, 2d Book' (1711)

User Reviews

Excellent

'Wives and Daughters' is not usually as regarded as highly as the BBC's celebrated 'Pride and Prejudice' mini-series but it is just as good in its own way. The original author Elizabeth Gaskell was a major writer of her day and can stand comparison with most novelists except perhaps for Austen and Dickens. Her work is definitely still worth reading. This particular book was unfinished but one can't fault the way Andrew Davies has rounded off the story.

The story covers Austen territory, two or three families, idiosyncratic supporting characters, love and marriage, hearth and society. All seen through the eyes of Molly Gibson. She is played splendidly by Justine Waddell who stays the centre of the film, even though surrounded by great actors like Michael Gambon, Bill Paterson, Penelope Wilton and Francesca Annis who are all perfect in their roles. The acting through out is excellent.

The characters are real people, flawed and petty and proud and anxious, but you can't help loving them. Andrew Davies wanted to put across the feeling of what it means to be alive and he does that by showing what it is like to be human. Even small scenes like the card party for the young people are rich in character and emotion. The length of the mini-series allows character development, enables one to get to know the characters. It shows ordinary life but also how rich that ordinary life is. Molly learns about people, about herself and also about the world around her, even about the little creatures who live at the bottom of ponds.

It repays watching time and again.