The Ruby in the Smoke (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Brian Percival

Writers:

Adrian Hodges (screenplay)
Philip Pullman (novel)

Release Date:

4 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Victorian England, Sally Lockhart receives an anonymous note sending her on a mysterious quest. Her...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Billie Piper	...	Sally Lockhart
Matt Smith	...	Jim Taylor
Sian Thomas	...	Mrs. Rees
Kay Lyon	...	Ellen
Robert Putt	...	Porter
Trevor Cooper	...	Mr. Higgs
Robert Glenister	...	Samuel Selby
Dominic Coleman	...	Jeremiah Blyth
Miles Anderson	...	Major Marchbanks
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Mrs. Thorpe
Chloe Walker	...	Adelaide
Julie Walters	...	Mrs. Holland
JJ Feild	...	Frederick Garland
Ramon Tikaram	...	Maharajah
Matthew Cureton	...	Young Marchbanks

Also Known As:

Sally Lockhart Mysteries: Ruby in the Smoke (USA) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Bluebell Railway, West Sussex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

[Mr Berry has just stolen the clue to the treasure from Sally]
Mrs. Holland: Oooh, Mr Berry. This calls for a celebration. There's gin in the cupboard.
Mr Berry: I signed the Pledge in Dartmoor, Mrs Holland. Alcohol is the cause of madness, hallucinations, softness of the brain and moral decay.
Mrs. Holland: I think the damage is already done in your case.
Mr Berry: Yeah, I was *formerly* very wicked - but I intend to lead a good life from now on.
Mrs. Holland: Always excepting the odd murder or two.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Shadow in the North (2007) (TV)

Rushed

I haven't read 'Ruby in the Smoke' but I have read some of the other Sally Lockheart books. I was hoping that this film would throw some light on a few things, but instead I found it very hard to follow. One minute we were here, the next somewhere else. I found it quite difficult to work out where all the characters fitted in, or why they acted the way they did. I don't think it was the acting, but the script was so rushed, they barely had time to fit in all the slitting of throats and killing everyone off. I'd thought this was a children's book, but I do rather regret letting my kids stay up to watch it. I hope future dramatisations of the books slow down a little for the sake of clarity. Surely, if you're going to do a drama like this with all the scenery, clothes and atmosphere, you should try to do it justice and not rush it?