The BBC TV miniseries Wives and Daughters (1999) was directed by Nicholas Renton. It's based on the novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell (1810 - 1865). Mrs. Gaskell's work was fairly well know in the 19th Century, but she faded into obscurity until the mid-20th Century. Now critics--particularly feminist critics--have brought her work back into view. The BBC has produced miniseries of three of her novels--this one, Cranford, and North and South.
Although written in 1865, the novel is set in rural England in the 1830's. This was before railroads became the dominant transportation system in England. Horses and stagecoaches were the standard form of transportation. That's where the BBC comes into its own--BBC directors love horses, dogs, sheep, cows, etc. The BBC really knows how to make modern England look like pre-Victorian England.
Although Mrs. Gaskell wrote a generation after Jane Austen, her novels deal with similar situations. Wives and Daughters shows us a strong, intelligent, attractive woman who needs to marry someone who will acknowledge her excellent qualities.
The problem is that her widower father marries a woman who also has a daughter. Although Molly (Justine Waddell) is attractive, her step sister Cynthia (Keeley Hawes) is extraordinarily beautiful. Men come to court Molly, but it's love at first sight when they see Cynthia. That's the basic plot, but there are many ramifications, secrets, and unexpected twists.
As usual, the BBC has assembled an excellent ensemble cast. I was particularly impressed by Waddell and Hawes. Francesca Annis as the-- somewhat--evil stepmother, and Michael Gambon as Squire Hamley were both outstanding. (Sir Michael is alive and well, but he's no longer young. What will the BBC do without him?)
I really enjoyed this miniseries. Because it was made for TV it works well on the small screen. Wives and Daughters has an outstanding IMDb rating of 8.1. I thought that it was even better than that, and rated it 9.
P.S. Sadly, Mrs. Gaskell died just before completing the novel. That means that the BBC had to invent the final chapter. I think they did a good job with that, although we can never know.
Although written in 1865, the novel is set in rural England in the 1830's. This was before railroads became the dominant transportation system in England. Horses and stagecoaches were the standard form of transportation. That's where the BBC comes into its own--BBC directors love horses, dogs, sheep, cows, etc. The BBC really knows how to make modern England look like pre-Victorian England.
Although Mrs. Gaskell wrote a generation after Jane Austen, her novels deal with similar situations. Wives and Daughters shows us a strong, intelligent, attractive woman who needs to marry someone who will acknowledge her excellent qualities.
The problem is that her widower father marries a woman who also has a daughter. Although Molly (Justine Waddell) is attractive, her step sister Cynthia (Keeley Hawes) is extraordinarily beautiful. Men come to court Molly, but it's love at first sight when they see Cynthia. That's the basic plot, but there are many ramifications, secrets, and unexpected twists.
As usual, the BBC has assembled an excellent ensemble cast. I was particularly impressed by Waddell and Hawes. Francesca Annis as the-- somewhat--evil stepmother, and Michael Gambon as Squire Hamley were both outstanding. (Sir Michael is alive and well, but he's no longer young. What will the BBC do without him?)
I really enjoyed this miniseries. Because it was made for TV it works well on the small screen. Wives and Daughters has an outstanding IMDb rating of 8.1. I thought that it was even better than that, and rated it 9.
P.S. Sadly, Mrs. Gaskell died just before completing the novel. That means that the BBC had to invent the final chapter. I think they did a good job with that, although we can never know.