"The House of Eliott" (1991) TV series 1991-1994

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Creators:

Eileen Atkins
Jean Marsh

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

31 August 1991 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Fashion | 1920s | Filmmaker | Period Piece | Women's Liberation

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Stella Gonet	...	Beatrice Eliott (34 episodes, 1991-1994)
Louise Lombard	...	Evangeline Eliott (34 episodes, 1991-1994)
Aden Gillett	...	Jack Maddox (26 episodes, 1991-1994)
Judy Flynn	...	Madge Howell / ... (26 episodes, 1991-1994)
Cathy Murphy	...	Tilly Watkins (25 episodes, 1991-1994)
Diana Rayworth	...	Betty (16 episodes, 1991-1993)
Victoria Alcock	...	Agnes (16 episodes, 1991-1993)

Runtime:

UK:50 min (34 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

24 Berkeley Square, Bristol, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The last major drama series to be made at BBC Television Centre.

Rewarding, uplifting, 1920s Drama

The House Of Eliott, set in Britian in the 1920s, follows the drama of the two Eliott sisters in their journey from being poor relations with no position or future in society to being amongst the most celebrated fashion designers in London.

There is much motivating drama as the sisters are held back by the cruel legacy of their father and their condescending relatives. Through their determination and by meeting creative and Bohemian members of society they begin to express their creative talents and break free of the constrictive life they were intended to live.

The 1920s period setting is dressed up well and is played out as a time of change in attitude to clothing and the way women could express themselves. Of course the cruel English class system, as always, provides a good background to the drama, where the aristocracy are still ruling and putting others in their place. But the signs of the change in society, post World War I, are evident. The characters are bound by their reputation and many reputations are all ready established, newly made and destroyed during the series.

Stella Gonet plays Beatrice, the elder Eliott sister who suffered greatly under her fathers stern hand and who determinedly finds her lost freedom. Louise Lombard, plays Evagaline, younger by twelve years to Beatrice, who begins naively venturing into the world after her sheltered childhood and blossoms into a sophisticated, individual and unconventional women in society. Both actresses are well cast and develop their characters well as the series progresses.

Aden Gillet as Jack Maddox, the society photographer and eventual love interest in the show is another regular character. Barbara Jefford is a favourite as their snobby, stern but somehow sympathetic character of Aunt Lydia - constantly reminding the "girls" that reputation is everything. The sub-plots(particularly in series 1) are also very well developed. As well as Aunt Lydia, their is the charity worker Penelope Maddox and her attempts help the poor and bring justice and the some of the stories of the employees in the fashion house.Other characters develop as the series progresses and some are more effective than others.

Developed by the creators of Upstairs Downstairs(well known actresses Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins) The House Of Elliot has good writing mostly good direction and acting and the journey of the Eliott sisters is a rewarding one to watch and re-watch.