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

Lord Cumnor: I'm sorry I said anything about it now. I'll try to find a more agreeable piece of news.
[pause]
Lord Cumnor: Old Marjorie at the lodge is dead.

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Connections

Featured in The Best of Masterpiece Theatre (2007)

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Soundtracks

The Northdown Waltz
Traditional

User Reviews

Surprisingly good and heartwarming

My wife was surprised that I sat out this whole miniseries with her. In fact, that was not hard at all. I loved the story, the performances, the wit and detail, the intelligence behind the dialogues and the storyline. Even though I could see the 'happy ending' looming large over the second half of the story, there remains a LOT to enjoy. The performances are so good (maybe with the exception of the two young brothers) that I can hardly believe the actors in fact have other characters than those they enacted on screen. 'Sense and sensibility' may be another fine Victorian adaptation, but I take this 'Wives and daughters' over it any time. Wholeheartedly recommended to anyone whose heart is not made of stone or cast iron.