Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House 

The great case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, an obsession to all involved. Then a question of inheritance becomes a question of murder.

Stars:

Diana Rigg, Denholm Elliott, Suzanne Burden

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Diana Rigg	...	Lady Honoria Dedlock 7 episodes, 1985
Denholm Elliott	...	John Jarndyce 7 episodes, 1985
Suzanne Burden	...	Esther Summerson 7 episodes, 1985
Jonathan Moore	...	William Guppy 7 episodes, 1985
Chris Pitt	...	Jo 6 episodes, 1985
Robin Bailey	...	Sir Leicester Dedlock 6 episodes, 1985
Lucy Hornak	...	Ada Clare 6 episodes, 1985
Philip Franks	...	Richard Carstone / ... 5 episodes, 1985
Sylvia Coleridge	...	Miss Flite 5 episodes, 1985
Bernard Hepton	...	Krook 5 episodes, 1985
Sam Kelly	...	Snagsby 5 episodes, 1985
Pamela Merrick	...	Hortense 5 episodes, 1985
Peter Vaughan	...	Tulkinghorn 5 episodes, 1985
T.P. McKenna	...	Harold Skimpole 4 episodes, 1985
Brian Deacon	...	Allan Woodcourt 4 episodes, 1985
Graham Crowden	...	Lord Chancellor 4 episodes, 1985
Eileen Davies	...	Judy Smallweed 4 episodes, 1985
Charlie Drake	...	Smallweed 4 episodes, 1985
Dave King	...	Sergeant George 4 episodes, 1985
Heather Tobias	...	Jenny / ... 4 episodes, 1985
Frank Windsor	...	Gridley 4 episodes, 1985
Robert Urquhart	...	Laurence Boythorn 3 episodes, 1985
Felicity Finch	...	Rosa 3 episodes, 1985
Samantha Holland	...	Charley Neckett 3 episodes, 1985
Harry Jones	...	Phil Squod 3 episodes, 1985
Kathy Burke	...	Guster 2 episodes, 1985
Jack Carr	...	Brickmaker / ... 2 episodes, 1985
Peter-Hugo Daly	...	Lizzy's Man / ... 2 episodes, 1985
Gabrielle Daye	...	Mrs. Rouncewell 2 episodes, 1985
Arthur Hewlett	...	Waggoner 2 episodes, 1985
Ian Hogg	...	Inspector Bucket 2 episodes, 1985
Stephen Kemble	...	Footman 2 episodes, 1985
Cathy Murphy	...	Housemaid 2 episodes, 1985
Katharine Page	...	Mrs. Smallweed 2 episodes, 1985
Rebecca Sebborn	...	Young Esther 2 episodes, 1985
George Sewell	...	Ironmaster Rouncewell 2 episodes, 1985
James Snell	...	Barrister 2 episodes, 1985
Donald Sumpter	...	'Nemo' 2 episodes, 1985
Wanda Toubas	...	Lizzy 2 episodes, 1985

Storyline

The great case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, an obsession to all involved. Then a question of inheritance becomes a question of murder.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | inheritance | secret | compassion | orphan | 

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Genres:

Drama | Crime

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1985 (UK)

Also Known As:

Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House

Filming Locations:

Belton House, Belton, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

391 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last TV drama role of Gerald Flood.

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Connections

Featured in Arena: Drake's Progress (2001)

User Reviews

Superb

There will always be inevitable comparisons to which adaptation of Bleak House people prefer, this or 2005. From a personal point of view, there is no real preference as both adaptations are outstanding in their own way. And not just as adaptations, but also on their own as well, which is every bit as important. The book is compelling, atmospheric and rich in characterisation. It is a mammoth book, and one of Dickens' least accessible(from first-time personal experience, the law stuff took its time to get completely). Both are well-made, tell the story extremely well indeed and brilliantly written and acted, the 2005 adaptation's characterisation is a little richer but this adaptation is a little more atmospheric.

Not everybody will find the 70s-80s Dickens serial adaptation their cup of tea. They may find them slow, long and with a lot of talk. That isn't the case with me. Of the ones seen, they respect their source material(even with omissions and changes here and there), are detailed, very evocative and Dickenesian and are well-made, written and acted. And that is the case with this Bleak House exactly. The costumes and sets look beautiful and very detailed, succeeding also in capturing the bleak nature of the book. They are also full of atmosphere and don't come across as too clean. The music is a pleasing mix of haunting overtones and delicate chamber-music-like, and fit with each scene excellently(if occasionally a little overdone in the final episode, some may prefer the more understated nature of the 2005 adaptation).

Bleak House(1985) scores very highly in the writing stakes too. Throughout the dialogue is intelligently adapted, there are scenes with a lot of talk but they weren't that tedious to me. The heartfelt tragedy, poignancy, sharp observations and nobility of Dickens' writing comes through loud and clear- some of Dickens' other books were also whimsical and had some nice comic scenes, The Old Curiosity Shop springs to mind- and the writing in the adaptation is distinctively Dickenesian in style. Bleak House(1985) is highly successful in how it tells this great story, characters are splendidly drawn and crucial scenes have their impact.

The adaptation is long, nearly seven hours, but there's a lot of characterisation and plotting going on so interest is always maintained. Things can unfold slowly, the first episode in particular, but that shouldn't be a turn-off. The book is also huge and has so much to tell, the long length was necessary and so was the pacing. Adaptation-wise, even with the omissions of a few minor characters, it is faithful in spirit to the book and to Dickens. The acting is very fine from all, three at least even are outstanding. Diana Rigg's Lady Dedlock is haunting and aristocratic as well as haughty and anguished. Denholm Elliot is a noble, gentle and moving Mr Jarndyce. And Peter Vaughan is splendidly sinister as Tulkinghorn. Coindentally, those characters were also performed the best in the 2005 adaptation as well.

Suzanne Burden plays Esther with backbone instead of being insipid or too meek, if not as warm as Anna Maxwell Martin. And Jonathan Moore is delightful as Guppy. All the characters are beautifully performed, much pleasure can be seen in those of the Smallweeds, Mrs Flite, Inspector Bucket, Sir Leicester Dedlock, Krook, Harold Skimpole and Jo too. All in all, a superb adaptation. 10/10 Bethany Cox