The Ruby in the Smoke (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Brian Percival

Writers:

Adrian Hodges (screenplay)
Philip Pullman (novel)

Release Date:

4 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Victorian England, Sally Lockhart receives an anonymous note sending her on a mysterious quest. Her...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Billie Piper	...	Sally Lockhart
Matt Smith	...	Jim Taylor
Sian Thomas	...	Mrs. Rees
Kay Lyon	...	Ellen
Robert Putt	...	Porter
Trevor Cooper	...	Mr. Higgs
Robert Glenister	...	Samuel Selby
Dominic Coleman	...	Jeremiah Blyth
Miles Anderson	...	Major Marchbanks
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Mrs. Thorpe
Chloe Walker	...	Adelaide
Julie Walters	...	Mrs. Holland
JJ Feild	...	Frederick Garland
Ramon Tikaram	...	Maharajah
Matthew Cureton	...	Young Marchbanks

Also Known As:

Sally Lockhart Mysteries: Ruby in the Smoke (USA) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Bluebell Railway, West Sussex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

[Mr Berry has just stolen the clue to the treasure from Sally]
Mrs. Holland: Oooh, Mr Berry. This calls for a celebration. There's gin in the cupboard.
Mr Berry: I signed the Pledge in Dartmoor, Mrs Holland. Alcohol is the cause of madness, hallucinations, softness of the brain and moral decay.
Mrs. Holland: I think the damage is already done in your case.
Mr Berry: Yeah, I was *formerly* very wicked - but I intend to lead a good life from now on.
Mrs. Holland: Always excepting the odd murder or two.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Shadow in the North (2007) (TV)

Enjoyable, well acted tale

This Victorian melodrama proved to be very enjoyable, perfect for Christmas time viewing. It was sometimes hard to follow, but the superb period detail and larger than life characters more than made up for this. High production values were evident throughout and The Ruby in the Smoke stood head and shoulders above the BBC's absolutely dreadful adaptation of Dracula, which ran the following night. Good performances from the cast overall. It was nice to see the cute, very likable JJ Feild once again. I was struck with him following his performance in The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton. His smile and personality light up the screen - we ought to see much more of him. I must admit that Julie Walters is not one of my favourite actresses. In the main, I feel that she overacts and hams it up too much. She did, however, in this production, turn in a superb performance as the malevolent Mrs. Holland. All credit to her. Billie Piper was OK in her usual Billie Piper way. All in all, an entertaining 90 minutes or so, perfect for a cold December evening.