The Beggar Bride (1997) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Diarmuid Lawrence

Writers:

Lizzie Mickery (writer)
Gillian White (novel)

Release Date:

24 August 1997 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

How far will she go for money?

Plot:

Young wife Angela Harper embarks on an affair with a rich older man in an attempt to raise some money.

Plot Keywords:

Greed | Bigamy | Jealousy | Based On Novel

Cast

Keeley Hawes	...	Angela Harper
Nicholas Jones	...	Sir Fabian Ormerod
Joe Duttine	...	Billy Harper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kacey Ainsworth	...	Tina
Jean Anderson	...	Lady Alice Hurleston
Angela Belton	...	WDC Jones
T.R. Bowen	...	Jerry (as Trevor Bowen)
John Bowler	...	Inspector Hayes
Elena Byers	...	Pandora Ormerod
Joanna Byers	...	Tabitha Ormerod
Constance Chapman	...	Nanny Ba Ba
Maurice Denham	...	Lord Evelyn Hurleston
Iain Easton	...	Robert
Ian Easton	...	Robert (The chauffeur)
Francesca Folan	...	Ruth Hubbard
Miles Harvey	...	Aaron Teale
Diana Kent	...	Ffiona Ormerod
Richard Lintern	...	Callister
Lizzie Mickery	...	Sandra Baines
Georgina Sutcliffe	...	Laura
Charlotte Williams	...	Honesty Ormerod

Runtime:

150 min | Belgium:80 min (2 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Dorset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Soundtrack:

You've Got a Lot to Answer For

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this mini-series when it aired on Swedish television (SVT) ten years ago, and I keep thinking of it. I thought the acting was great from Keeley Hawes in the leading part as Angela and Nicholas Jones gives a very strong and touching portrayal of Sir Fabian, and the two played off each other so beautifully. Great chemistry! I remember loving the soundtrack (featured a.o. songs by Catatonia and theme song was 'She's a star' by James) in this series; right from when the new Brit pop wave had its peak and I was into Oasis and Suede (ah, those teen-age years =))... I think the series and story was very captivating, compelling, wild, funny, mysterious and sad. The younger woman/older man theme was also done beautifully; serious and delicate, and that was really nice, I felt it really believable!! I was very caught by the ending: it was great in the much ambiguous way it was done; a very open ending which leaves you wondering who Angela really loved... I'm beginning to think it actually was... ! ;) I wish Swedish television would air this series again, seems to be hard to get on VHS/DVD from here.