"Bleak House" (2005)TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

27 October 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A suspenseful tale about the injustices of the 19th-century English legal system

Plot Keywords:

Court Battle | Doctor | London | Marriage Proposal | Smallpox

Awards:

15 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Anna Maxwell Martin	...	Esther Summerson (15 episodes, 2005)
Denis Lawson	...	John Jarndyce (15 episodes, 2005)
Carey Mulligan	...	Ada Clare / ... (15 episodes, 2005)
Gillian Anderson	...	Lady Dedlock (14 episodes, 2005)
Tom Georgeson	...	Clamb (14 episodes, 2005)
Charles Dance	...	Mr. Tulkinghorn (12 episodes, 2005)
Patrick Kennedy	...	Richard Carstone (12 episodes, 2005)
Timothy West	...	Sir Leicester Dedlock (12 episodes, 2005)
Burn Gorman	...	Guppy (11 episodes, 2005)
Hugo Speer	...	Sergeant George (10 episodes, 2005)
Pauline Collins	...	Miss Flite (10 episodes, 2005)
Philip Davis	...	Smallweed (10 episodes, 2005)
Nathaniel Parker	...	Harold Skimpole (10 episodes, 2005)
Alun Armstrong	...	Bucket (9 episodes, 2005)
Anne Reid	...	Mrs. Rouncewell (9 episodes, 2005)
Lilo Baur	...	Hortense (9 episodes, 2005)
Katie Angelou	...	Charley Neckett (9 episodes, 2005)
Loo Brealey	...	Judy (8 episodes, 2005)
Michael Smiley	...	Phil Squod (8 episodes, 2005)
Emma Williams	...	Rosa (7 episodes, 2005)
Harry Eden	...	Jo (7 episodes, 2005)
Richard Harrington	...	Allan Woodcourt (7 episodes, 2005)
Nathalie Press	...	Caddy Turveydrop / ... (7 episodes, 2005)

Also Known As:

Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (USA) (series title)

Runtime:

510 min | 60 min (1 episode) | 30 min (14 episodes)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-11 (DVD) (2006) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Balls Park, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Lady Dedlock's green and white vertical-striped dress with white lace cuffs is the same costume worn by Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margaret Hale in the final scenes of North & South (2004) (TV).

Quotes:

Mr. Tulkinghorn: [after the funeral of Mr Nemo] What do you know of this man?
Jo: I don't know nothing only that he was really good to me.
Mr. Tulkinghorn: Oh, and what good were you to him?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2006) (TV)

Gillian Anderson is luminous

Gillian Anderson is luminous as Lady Dedlock in this adaptation of Dickens's Bleak House. She is helped by the highly atmospheric, Gothic type lighting in many of the scenes which mirrors the dourness and dirt of the era. Particularly effective, are the parts shot in the squalid Victorian homes on winding staircases with peeling paint. Although not yet complete, this is a joy to watch with just the right balance of suspense and comedy. I have had to restrain myself from dipping into the book to find out the ending. I can't remember the last British costume drama I saw which showcased as much acting talent as this, whether it is the dastardly lawyer played by Charles Dance or the slatternly mother who is Lisa Tarbuck; watch out especially for Pauline Collins (a known talent) and Johnny Vegas (a revelation) who are both really rather good. I believe Sheila Hancok is going to appear soon and I am looking forward to that too.