The Ruby in the Smoke (4 Feb. 2007)
"Masterpiece Theatre" The Ruby in the Smoke (original title)

In Victorian England, Sally Lockhart receives an anonymous note sending her on a mysterious quest. Her father has recently died and feeling suffocated living with her elderly aunt moves in ... See full summary »

Director:

Brian Percival

Writers:

Adrian Hodges (screenplay), Philip Pullman (novel)

Stars:

Billie Piper, Matt Smith, Sian Thomas

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In Victorian England, Sally Lockhart receives an anonymous note sending her on a mysterious quest. Her father has recently died and feeling suffocated living with her elderly aunt moves in with newfound friends, a photographer and his sister. She is soon made aware that the mysterious Mrs. Holland is out to kill her. In the end, she realizes the solution to the mystery is rooted in events that occurred long ago when she lived with her father in India and a recurring dream she has had ever since.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 2007 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Connections

Followed by The Shadow in the North (2007)

User Reviews

Upswing for Masterpiece Theatre

Well, I have to say I approached this Victorian thriller with a great deal of pessimism, after being disappointed repeatedly by Masterpiece Theatre (PBS/WGBH) in recent years. Helen Mirren's final 'Prime Suspect', which aired recently, had returned my interest in the honorable, high-road TV series, which had been mired in humorlessly rendered Miss Marple, mediocre Sherlock Holmes, and another tiresome Jane Eyre. Julie Walters has saved the day in this wonderfully crisp and nicely produced Victorian thriller with a young female lead, several refreshing new faces and an excellent TV script. Miss Walters puts in a chilling performance, as notable as her work in 'Educating Rita' and 'Billy Elliot'. What a relief! I would have been quite sad if it had been otherwise. The pace of this production reminds me of the Jeremy Brett 'Sherlock Holmes' of twenty years ago. The strength of this piece is the chain of excellent female characters, major and minor. It has mood and visual production values which captivate, despite their simplicity. I am so pleased to be back as a fan.