"Aristocrats" (1999) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

David Caffrey

Writers:

Harriet O'Carroll (writer)
Stella Tillyard (biography)

Release Date:

10 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

Parliament | Loss Of Mother | Politics | Aristocracy | Illegitimate Child

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Serena Gordon	...	Caroline
Alun Armstrong	...	Henry Fox
Geraldine Somerville	...	Lady Emily
Ben Daniels	...	Lord Kildare
Julian Fellowes	...	Lord Richmond
Diane Fletcher	...	Lady Richmond
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Louisa
Tom Mullion	...	Thomas Conolly
Jodhi May	...	Sarah
Andrew Havill	...	Charles Bunbury
George Anton	...	William Ogilvie
John Light	...	Edward Fitzgerald
Clive Swift	...	King George II
Siân Phillips	...	Narrator / Older Lady Emily
Richard Dempsey	...	Lord Beaufield

Runtime:

50 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK | Ireland | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Carton House, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The gold and jewel encrusted gown worn by Jodhi May (as Lady Sarah) to the court of the newly crowned George III was previously worn by Helen Mirren as Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George (1994).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Geraldine Somerville, who was the principal actress playing the second Lennox sister Emily, appears in the background as a mourner in the scene where Lady Caroline and Mr. Fox are talking at a funeral in the first episode of the series. At this point in the story, the character of Emily is a child so Geraldine was available as an extra and the casting directors didn't think anyone would notice.

Quotes:

Lady Emily: Is not the act of love... strange? Jimmy says that its frequent use is necessary to a woman's health and happiness.
Caroline: That's abominably indelicate.
Lady Emily: He says what he thinks.
Caroline: I'm sure one sees many mighty comfortable old virgins.
Lady Emily: Perhaps that is so. But one is awfully glad not to be among them...

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'Aristocrats' (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Croppy Boy

Mostly wonderful set-up with no wrap-up

No mini-series has made me want to read the book more. The source material seems absolutely fascinating, and so many allusions and sometimes confusing references were made in the series that one realizes only a book can flesh out the intricacies of the complete story.

This was a compelling series up to the end disc, when previously minor flaws became too great to ignore. The writer can't seem to decide if the story is about 4 sisters and their relationship to each other; their interactions with social norms & how they abided by, flaunted, or bent them; the plight of the aristocracy itself during a time of social turmoil; or how great a stand one should take on great political/moral issues and what consequences that may have.

This is obviously far too much for any 6-part series to take on, even by so venerable an institution as the BBC. Casting, acting, direction, sets, and costumes are outstanding, as always. But the story...the story raises little questions here and there that don't get resolved. One's willing to overlook that because everything else is so compelling. But the final disc (2 episodes), where the timeline has progressed into the sisters' later years, really starts to fall apart. Characters we barely know suddenly take up the bulk of screen time and the 4- pronged story arc starts to fray.

It was such a disappointing end to an otherwise wonderful period piece. I can't wait to read the book.