"Wives and Daughters" (1999) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Britain | Loss Of Son | Loss Of Mother | Brother Brother Relationship | Country Life

Awards:

8 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Justine Waddell	...	Molly Gibson (4 episodes, 1999)
Bill Paterson	...	Mr. Gibson (4 episodes, 1999)
Francesca Annis	...	Hyacinth Gibson (4 episodes, 1999)
Keeley Hawes	...	Cynthia Kirkpatrick (4 episodes, 1999)
Tom Hollander	...	Osborne Hamley (4 episodes, 1999)
Anthony Howell	...	Roger Hamley (4 episodes, 1999)
Michael Gambon	...	Squire Hamley (4 episodes, 1999)
Barbara Flynn	...	Miss Browning (4 episodes, 1999)
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Phoebe (4 episodes, 1999)
Iain Glen	...	Mr. Preston (4 episodes, 1999)
Peter Copley	...	Robinson (4 episodes, 1999)
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Lady Cumnor (4 episodes, 1999)
Emily McKenzie	...	Maria (4 episodes, 1999)
Ian Carmichael	...	Lord Cumnor (3 episodes, 1999)
Rosamund Pike	...	Lady Harriet Cumnor (3 episodes, 1999)
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mrs. Goodenough (3 episodes, 1999)
Tonia Chauvet	...	Aimée (3 episodes, 1999)
Shaughan Seymour	...	Lord Hollingford (3 episodes, 1999)
Georgie Glen	...	Miss Hornblower (3 episodes, 1999)
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	St. Hilaire (3 episodes, 1999)
Fred Pearson	...	Mr Sheepshanks / ... (3 episodes, 1999)
Jacqueline Pilton	...	Mrs. Dawes (3 episodes, 1999)
Jemima Rooper	...	Lizzie Goodenough (3 episodes, 1999)
Richard Coyle	...	Mr. Coxe (2 episodes, 1999)
Penelope Wilton	...	Mrs. Hamley (2 episodes, 1999)
Matthew Lloyd Davies	...	Mr. Roscoe (2 episodes, 1999)
Keeley Flanders	...	Fanny Goodenough (2 episodes, 1999)
Gordon Gostelow	...	Williams (2 episodes, 1999)
Dilys Hamlett	...	The Duchess (2 episodes, 1999)
Ben Illis	...	Mr Wynne (2 episodes, 1999)
Dariel Pertwee	...	Lady Cuxhaven (2 episodes, 1999)
Tim Wallers	...	Mr. Henderson (2 episodes, 1999)
Steven Webb	...	William Goodenough (2 episodes, 1999)

Runtime:

301 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:U | USA:TV-PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The tan striped gown with teal scallop trim at the hem worn by a guest at the Easter Ball is the same costume worn by Greta Scacchi (Mrs. Weston) in the final scene of Emma (1996), and by Emma Pierson (Fanny Dorrit) to visit Mrs. Merdles in "Little Dorrit" (2008).

Quotes:

Mr. Gibson: You're becoming a very surprising young woman.

Soundtrack:

Nocturne No. 5 in B-Flat Major

Extremely entertaining with some terrific performances

I found this mini-series extremely entertaining. The acting was excellent. Michael Gambon was particularly outstanding. Justine Waddell did a wonderful job with Molly. She could have been an insufferable prig, but Justine brought such sincerity and vulnerability to her that you took her to your heart. Francesca Annis touched all the right buttons with her characterisation of the social climbing wife and Bill Paterson's wry humour and warmth made his relationship with Molly all the more realistic. Every role was well performed and no-one struck an artificial note. The settings, of course, were superb. How can you fail with the wonderful wealth of historic houses and the countryside available in England. The costumes,too, were excellent. No detail was missed. This series is one you can watch several times and still find new facets in the characterisations. PLEASE let us have more of this quality. Highly recommended.