Victorians! discussion
Victorian Costume Dramas
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Favorite costume dramas?
The Importance of Being Earnest with Rupert Everett. An Ideal Husband is a close second; in fact, this is the only movie where I prefer the cinematic ending to the literary one!
I'm a sucker for the BBC version of "Our Mutual Friend." I know Austen's Regency and not Victorian, but did anyone see Bride and Prejudice?
Oooh, there have been some really fun modern remakes of Austen novels - I loved "Clueless." "Bride and Prejudice" was super silly, but I thought it was great fun. Sadly, the critics did not agree.
After watching "Bleak House," I've been considering naming a daughter "Esther." But I should probably read the book first, right? Talk me down, people.
My favourite drama is the BBC adaptation of Gaskell's North & South. Absolutely love it!
next would be BBC Pride & Prejudice, Bleak House and Emma Thompson's Sense & Sensibility.
next would be BBC Pride & Prejudice, Bleak House and Emma Thompson's Sense & Sensibility.
Yeah, I love the BBC Pride and Prejudice--the casting was so well done for that film. Persuasion was also good. I'll have to check out the North & South adaptation--such a wonderful novel!
I forgot to add the tv movies done of Catherine Cookson's novels. I know CC wasn't born in the Victorian era, but her books are excellent. The movies are enjoyable and I have many of them. The Dwelling Place is a favourite as well as Fifteen Streets, The Black Candle.
All the jane austen movies are so wonderful. For Trollope fans, I was glad to see Sarah included The Way We Live Now on her list, it's especially good, with the wonderful Cilliam Murphy and the astounding David Suchet.
Have any of you seen the old black and white pride and prejudice with Green Garson and Laurence Olivier? It's not completely true to the plot of the novel but it's wonderful; I alternate between obsessively watching this version and the Colin Firth version.
Mmmmm, Masterpiece Theatre (2006) version of Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens and Francesca Annis. My eyes water just thinking about it. Also the BBC miniseries of Cranford with Judy Dench. Yummy stuff.
I love The Pallisers (1972-1974) all 26 hours of it. Great costumes. and love Susan Hampshire, too. I like Daniel Deronda too --Jodhi May was wonderful.
I loved the recent BBC adaptation of "Our Mutual Friend." The 1970's adaptation is now available on DVD in the UK--I ordered it and liked it, though I think on the whole I preferred the newer adaptation.
My favourite is Jane Eyre with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens (swoon!) - but then it's my favourite book too.I also recently watched Tess of the D'Urbivilles and thought that was wonderful too.
Other favourites are Bleak House, Oliver (the old one from about 30 years ago), Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice .
OMG, I'm with you on Toby Stephens! Monkey pile!
Inder - You should definitely read Bleak House! Fabulous book.
toby stephens plays well as mr. rochester!
He certainly does ;o) Yum!
I love Sense and Sensibility (if Austen belongs to the Victorians).I also adore the BBC version of Great Expectations with Ioan Gruffud as Pip.
Anyone seen the new Little Dorrit miniseries? I was tempted, but I had so much else to do when it started in my part of the US this weekend that I decided to wait for the DVD.
Thanks for recommending the BBC's North and South, Anne! I just watched it and loved it.
Sherien wrote: "toby stephens plays well as mr. rochester!"I loved this version - it was a bit more hot-blooded than i remembered the book being, so I went back to it and yes it is all there in the text - very passionate!
I loved Far From the Madding Crowd with Julie Christie, made way back in 1969, I think. It was what got me over my school-induced dislike of Hardy. I re-read the book afterwards, and then everything else Hardy wrote. In addition, I like pretty well every costume drama that comes from Britain!!! It became a ritual at our house to watch Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday evenings. I now have the entire Upstairs Downstairs DVD collection. : )
Oh hey, I was just thinking of renting that series from netflix. The hardest part is waiting to see the movies until after I've read the books.
Gabriele wrote: "I loved Far From the Madding Crowd with Julie Christie, made way back in 1969, I think. It was what got me over my school-induced dislike of Hardy. I re-read the book afterwards, and then everythi..."Then try The Duchess of Duke Street :O)
Saw every one of those as well. I have characters who party at her hotel during the war. : ) the real "Duchess" was Rosa Lewis, who was known to provide approved officers with a nice clean tart.
Darcy wrote: "I'm a sucker for the BBC version of "Our Mutual Friend." I know Austen's Regency and not Victorian, but did anyone see Bride and Prejudice? "
yep!
I want to know if anyone watched 'Brass'
Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "BBC Forsyte saga?"Loved that and the Pallisers and numerous others. I wish that PBS would bring some of those BBC dramas back as I missed some and love to see my favourites again. It's pretty well the only TV I watch.
Gabriele wrote: "Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "BBC Forsyte saga?"Loved that and the Pallisers and numerous others. I wish that PBS would bring some of those BBC dramas back as I missed some and love to see m..."
did you get I claudius?
Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "Gabriele wrote: "Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "BBC Forsyte saga?"Loved that and the Pallisers and numerous others. I wish that PBS would bring some of those BBC dramas back as I missed som..."
Yes, I saw it years ago.
Although not based on a Victorian novel, but set in that era was the Poldark series, which was great fun.
Gabriele wrote: "Although not based on a Victorian novel, but set in that era was the Poldark series, which was great fun. "yessssss
that is why I am re-reading xxxxxxx
No. Give me some info to jog the old brain, Bettie. (I'm going back and forth between making dinner and staying online! lol)
Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "and did you get The Water Margin?"
No! What was that about?
Gabriele wrote: "No. Give me some info to jog the old brain, Bettie. (I'm going back and forth between making dinner and staying online! lol)"You know in real life Prunella Scales is married to fellow actor Tinothy West well he did done do (snerky laff) a series called Brass that I did love so very very much. He was the top nob of an industrial town so he looked down on everyone else (envisage Manchester here). It was Victorian/Prince of Wales'sie/Early Late George pomposity at it's very very best
Does Pallisers get better after the 1st episode? I almost fell asleep half way through it- hoity toityness. The only Victorian series I really LOVED was Bramwell. I wish they would make Dr.Bramwell action figures so I could play with them. "Dr.Bramwell vs. G.I.Joe in high-action adventure". (The doctor is a woman, by the way). Dr. Bramwell amputates Joe's leg with a hack saw! Really, the series is wonderfully done, amputations and all. The Duchess of Dukestreet was so-so for me; it had kind of a stagnant feel to it, the way a lot of older British shows do for some reason. Now I'm watching Berkeley Square, which is pretty good- the relationship of three nannies who meet in the park every day and endure their respective families.
Oooooh hoooo - you meant details about the Water Margin?? Please don't be angry with me because it is time for you to cook - all our clocks are different here on GR.ancient text comes to life - the root of all the sillies such as 'monkey' et al.
http://www.china-on-site.com/water.php
Cher wrote: "Does Pallisers get better after the 1st episode? I almost fell asleep half way through it- hoity toityness. The only Victorian series I really LOVED was Bramwell. I wish they would make Dr.Bramwel..."I did not like The Pallisers - nope and nosiree and don't think for one moment I didn't read and then watch because I did put myself through it all in every which way.
hee
I sometimes wonder why 'they' didn't put on the lovely Anthony Powell stuff instead; surely A Dance to the Music of Time First Movement would have been so much more congenial
Cher wrote: "Does Pallisers get better after the 1st episode? I almost fell asleep half way through it- hoity toityness. The only Victorian series I really LOVED was Bramwell. I wish they would make Dr.Bramwel..."I saw the Pallisers when it first came out - what, 35 years ago? Maybe you had be there : ) to appreciate it. I think I'd still like it as well, but who's to say how our tastes change. At that time, anything like that was relished because it wasn't mainstream and therefore not easily available. Try a few more episodes and see if you can connect with Lady Glencora etc.
Getting back to the discussion...I wish my TV would channel the BBC. I had PBS in Maryland and sometimes they used to play a lot of Austen/Dickens classics that came from BBC...but for some reason there's no PBS in the Southeast. I have about 7-8 HBOs, Cinemaxs, and Showtime channels so I get all the channels. But no more PBS. Must be a thing here.
I'm sure there must be a very BIG misunderstanding. I do enjoy this group and look forward to more neat conversations!
I get two PBS stations here in SC (our local SCTV affiliate and UNC-TV from up in NC). My father gets four - he lives in Charlotte and gets the SC station from Rock Hill, UNC-TV, the local NC station, and a local independent PBS station. Rich pickings!We also get BBC-America, which is a great channel.
Must be my local provider then...I am in a small town. Looks like Charlotte is where I want to be haha.
The town has no soul anymore, and it has perfectly ridiculous traffic these days, but it does have lots of PBS choices!
Regarding recent film adaptations of Victorian novels I've read, I've a few faves:"Wives and Daughters" (BBC, 1999)
"Little Dorrit" (BBC, 2008)
"Bleak House" (BBC, 2005)
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" (BBC, 1996)
"Our Mutual Friend" (BBC, 1998)
"Wives and Daughters" and "Little Dorrit" are just about my two most favorite adaptations/movies ever. I could watch 'em anytime, anywhere!
As a side-note, the first three in my list are screenplays written by Andrew Davies. This fellow can bring a novel to life! He has done several of the recent Jane Austen adaptations, and I believe has written the screenplay for the new "Emma" being filmed, as we speak, for release this fall in the UK. Cheers! Chris
My favourite costume dramas : definitely the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, just love it, Alison Steadman as Mrs Bennet is hilarious. And of course like most people I fell for Colin Firth's 'Mr Darcy' and he remained in my top five list of 'favourite period drama male leads' (yes I have long titled lists of ridiculous natures just because) until the BBC's North and South. Then I fell in love with Richard Armitage AND his Mr John Thornton. Then I read North and South and fell even more in love with Mr Thornton (yes I know he isn't a REAL person!).The BBC really are pro's at choosing gorgeous, charming, interesting males to play the leading roles in their period dramas. I can never decide whether I prefer Toby Stephens as Markham in Tenant of Wildfell Hall (another favourite) or Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre. (he was hilarious as Prince John in Robin Hood but that's by the by). Of all adaptations of books I've never really loved any of Jane Eyre, it was one of the first novels I ever read and I don't think anyone's ever been able to capture the magic I felt when I first read it. Ruth Wilson did a very good job as Jane Eyre in the BBC adaptation though.
I'll also give a shout out to the recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights (ITV), but that's again merely superficial because I loved Tom Hardy's Heathcliff, however the story itself was a complete botch job and I prefer the book wholeheartedly.
I usually have the opinion that the BBC do the best job of period dramas, it's the only time I feel rewarded for paying the licence fee!
p.s - shout out for Lark Rise because it's amazing!
I have to be honest, but what sells it for me is the accent. I know this must sounds really odd to those of you in England/UK because you HAVE those accents (do you still call it an accent when it's your real, natural voice?), but for an American girl like me, tall, handsome, with the accent... you have to be a pretty bad actor for me to not like you.
Victorians!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton: The First Domestic Goddess (other topics)A Dance to the Music of Time: 1st Movement (other topics)
I love Masterpiece Theater's "Bleak House."