Seen on Masterpiece Theatre, starring Francesca Annis in an award-winning performance, Lillie vividly captures the complex woman who became one of the most notorious and respected figures of the Victorian era.
As the Great War rages across Europe, Lillie seeks to repair her relationship with her daughter Jeanne (Joanna David, "Rebecca") and secure her legacy.
Lillie's jewels are stolen from the bank, and Lillie goes back on stage to raise money. Lillie marries Hugo de Bathe, 20 years her junior, but can't keep him faithful. Lillie rebuilds an old theatre,...
Bertie remains smitten with Lillie and even builds her a seaside house. When visiting Crown Prince Rudolph is so smitten with Lillie that he ignores his social duties, Bertie arranges Lillie to be ...
Lillie Langtry, trapped in a loveless marriage, takes full advantage of her beauty, attracting many lovers and admirers including the Prince of Wales and Oscar Wilde. As her husband slowly drinks himself to death, Lillie embarks upon a sensational career as a somewhat talented yet beautiful actress in Britain and the United States. Throughout her life she attracts rich and sometimes brutal lovers, endures financial ruin and scandal, yet maintains her dignity, elegance, and a certain amount of her beauty until the end of her life.Written by
<LACrosthwait@prodigy.net>
Francesca Annis wore 200 different costumes during the production, each one carefully designed and fitted to her, many embellished with period lace and ribbon. See more »
Quotes
Lord Rosslyn:
When you two talk together, do you always talk about nothing but art?
Oscar Wilde:
Of course not, Lord Rosslyn. When Jimmy and I are together, we never talk about anything exept ourselves.
J. M. Whistler:
Oh no, you forget, dear Oscar, when you and I are together, we never talk about anything except me.
Oscar Wilde:
That's true, Jimmy. We do talk about you, but I think about myself.
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At the end of the first hour of this BBC Costumer, you may be tempted to forget the rest, as it appears to be somewhat dated--the color as dated a bit, the film techniques--and the plot establishment a bit slow; but stay the course! This excellent immersion in Victorian society is both informative and wonderfully acted, particularly by Francesca Annis as Lillie Langtry, who is seldom off the screen, playing a young woman whose strength of will develops as she copes with a society whose strictures are iron-clad. I can't recall when I've seen a better portrayal of Oscar Wilde and his immediate Bohemian Circle, Peter Egan brilliantly capturing his offhand wit and vulnerability; Denis Lill, too, as the Prince of Wales who becomes enamored of the "Jersey Lily" sent me to Wikipedia to discover more about the entire period; to someone who only knew of Lillie Lantry because of Judge Roy Bean's obsession with her in the John Ford movie My Darling Clementine, this lengthy series was mesmerizing; it's a colorful and involving recreation of a world long past.
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At the end of the first hour of this BBC Costumer, you may be tempted to forget the rest, as it appears to be somewhat dated--the color as dated a bit, the film techniques--and the plot establishment a bit slow; but stay the course! This excellent immersion in Victorian society is both informative and wonderfully acted, particularly by Francesca Annis as Lillie Langtry, who is seldom off the screen, playing a young woman whose strength of will develops as she copes with a society whose strictures are iron-clad. I can't recall when I've seen a better portrayal of Oscar Wilde and his immediate Bohemian Circle, Peter Egan brilliantly capturing his offhand wit and vulnerability; Denis Lill, too, as the Prince of Wales who becomes enamored of the "Jersey Lily" sent me to Wikipedia to discover more about the entire period; to someone who only knew of Lillie Lantry because of Judge Roy Bean's obsession with her in the John Ford movie My Darling Clementine, this lengthy series was mesmerizing; it's a colorful and involving recreation of a world long past.