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 had lived a blissful sheltered life with her widower father. 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 Molly. 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 herself.

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Plot Keywords:

sister sister relationship | africa | gossip | stepsister | stepmother | 

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Genres:

Drama

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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 and white print gown worn by a guest at the Easter Ball is the same costume worn by Julia Sawalha (Maria) to church in Hornblower: Duty (2003).

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in The Best of Masterpiece Theatre (2007)

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Soundtracks

Solomon: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Written by George Frideric Handel (as Georg Friedrich Händel)

User Reviews

Superb! - Buy the DVD and wallow in this marvellous production!

The BBC is well known for its high quality costume dramas and this is one of the best in recent years. Elizabeth Gaskell is not an author that I was familiar with except for her usually being known as 'Mrs. Gaskell', which immediately makes her work offer the prospect of being a bit staid. Well not a bit of it! This production is intelligent, witty and thoroughly charming throughout. When it was shown as a serial, I couldn't wait for the next episode! Every member of the cast is exceptional, but special praise for Justine Waddell and Francesca Annis. I defy anybody not to become thoroughly involved in the story of Molly and her family/friends. Elizabeth Gaskell never finished the novel, sadly dying before its completion, but I feel certain that she would have wholeheartedly approved of the BBC's ending which is absolutely heartwarming! Even if you dislike period drama, I urge you to give this one a try, I know that my DVD copy will be getting a lot of use in the coming years - many thanks BBC!