Wives and Daughters 

The daughter of a country doctor copes with an unwanted stepmother, an impetuous stepsister, burdensome secrets, the town gossips, and the tug on her own heartstrings for a man who thinks of her only as a friend.

Stars:

Francesca Annis, Justine Waddell, Bill Paterson

8 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Francesca Annis	...	Mrs. Gibson 4 episodes, 1999
Justine Waddell	...	Molly 4 episodes, 1999
Bill Paterson	...	Mr. Gibson 4 episodes, 1999
Keeley Hawes	...	Cynthia 4 episodes, 1999
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Phoebe 4 episodes, 1999
Barbara Flynn	...	Miss Browning 4 episodes, 1999
Emily McKenzie	...	Maria / ... 4 episodes, 1999
Iain Glen	...	Mr. Preston 4 episodes, 1999
Tom Hollander	...	Osborne Hamley 4 episodes, 1999
Anthony Howell	...	Roger Hamley 4 episodes, 1999
Michael Gambon	...	Squire Hamley 4 episodes, 1999
Ian Carmichael	...	Lord Cumnor 3 episodes, 1999
Tonia Chauvet	...	Aimee 3 episodes, 1999
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mrs. Goodenough 3 episodes, 1999
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Lady Cumnor 3 episodes, 1999
Peter Copley	...	Robinson 3 episodes, 1999
Rosamund Pike	...	Lady Harriet 3 episodes, 1999
Shaughan Seymour	...	Lord Hollingford 3 episodes, 1999
Fred Pearson	...	Sheepshanks / ... 3 episodes, 1999
Richard Coyle	...	Mr. Coxe 2 episodes, 1999
Jemima Rooper	...	Lizzie Goodenough 2 episodes, 1999
Georgie Glen	...	Miss Hornblower 2 episodes, 1999
Jacqueline Pilton	...	Mrs. Dawes 2 episodes, 1999
Tim Wallers	...	Mr. Henderson 2 episodes, 1999
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	St. Hilaire 2 episodes, 1999
Dariel Pertwee	...	Lady Cuxhaven 2 episodes, 1999
Ben Illis	...	Mr. Wynne 2 episodes, 1999
Gordon Gostelow	...	Williams 2 episodes, 1999
Penelope Wilton	...	Mrs. Hamley 2 episodes, 1999

Storyline

For many years, young Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell) had lived a blissful sheltered life with her widower father (Bill Paterson). However, her world is shaken with the introduction of new acquaintances and situations. Molly becomes friends with a landed gentry family, which includes two brothers with very different temperaments. Meanwhile, her father marries a widow with a daughter close in age to her. Eventually, Molly becomes a trusted confidante for her new friends and family; but the secrets become burdensome, as the gossip begins to circulate about Molly.

---

Plot Keywords:

sister sister relationship | africa | period drama | gossip | stepsister | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French Amharic

Release Date:

15 December 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wives and Daughters

Filming Locations:

Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Dune Films, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

301 min (4 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The blue striped dress with long sleeves worn by a guest at the Towers in the opening scene is the same costume worn by Gwyneth Paltrow (Emma Woodhouse) at Hartfield in Emma (1996), and by Mali Harries (Ann Rood) for her wedding in Byron (2003). The same costume is also worn by one of the maids at Chawton Cottage in Miss Austen Regrets (2008).

---

Quotes

[to Mr. Preston]
Cynthia Kirkpatrick: I didn't sell myself. I liked you then, but oh, do I hate you now!

---

Connections

Featured in The Best of Masterpiece Theatre (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Haste to the Wedding
Traditional

User Reviews

Superb!!! A must see!

"Wives and Daughters" is adapted from the unfinished Victorian novel of Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell and is produced by the same creative geniuses that gave us A&E/BBC's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice."

"Wives and Daughters" is adapted from the unfinished Victorian novel of Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell and is produced by the same creative geniuses that gave us A&E/BBC's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice."

This story centers around girl-next-door Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell of "Mansfield Park," "Tess" and "Great Expectations") and her father, the town doctor (Bill Patterson). Their idyllic lives are turned upside down when Mr. Gibson remarries the selfish, self-absorbed Claire Fitzpatrick (Francesca Annis) and her beautiful daughter Cynthia (Keeley Hawes of "Our Mutual Friend") join the household. The brothers Osborne (Tom Hollander) and Roger (handsome newcomer Anthony Howell who reminds me of a young Mel Gibson) Hamley add romantic interest to the tale. However, the Hamleys come from old English stock and the squire Hamley (veteran actor Michael Gambon) desires his sons to marry into "wealthy old English families." Before long, Molly falls for Roger and Roger falls for Cynthia and we, the viewers, find some surprising discoveries along the way!!

Memorable supporting characters include the goodhearted Browning sisters, town gossip Mrs. Goodenough, mysterious Mr. Preston (Iain Glen) and the aristocratic Cumnor family. Justine Waddell is luminous as Molly and Michael Gambon and Francesca Annis turn in memorable performances. The scenery, costumes and production values are all excellent. Screenwriter Andrew Davies - who also penned P&P - gives us a satisfying, romantic new ending that would make Mrs. Gaskell proud. I loved every moment of this adaptation! If you are an Anglophile, enjoy a great love story or are a fan of Mrs. Gaskell, this is the film for you!!