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birdienlNext to keeping up with my favourite series, watching all the newest period dramas and just a silly romantic comedy now and then, I also like to watch some older period drama. There's a huge number I see in lists here and there that I've never watched. Because these older adaptations are often little known, I've deciden to write a little bit about them (calling this a review would be exaggerating) here on my journal. In the last few weeks I've watched the following three (possible spoilers under the cut)
Return of the Native 1994
Adapted from: the novel by Thomas Hardy
Length: 101 min
Summary: The beautiful Eustacia Vye wishes to leave the remote moorland village where she lives with her grandfather. Two man claim her affection, the local inkeeper Damon Wildeve and Clym Yeobright, a diamond merchant recently returned from Paris.
Familiar faces: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, Steven Mackintosh (Our Mutual Friend), Joan Plowright, Celia Imrie (Cranford)
Watch this if:
- You're in the mood for a story about a complicated woman and the two men who woe her
- You like period dramas set in sweeping moorland
- You're interested in the work of Zeta-Jones and Owen before they became Hollywood stars
Don't watch this if:
- You don't like Hardy's melodramatic heroines and love for depressive endings
Best part (Spoilers!): How the quiet love of Steven Mackintosh's character gets rewarded in the end
Lorna Doone 2000
Adapted from: the novel by R.D. Blackmore
Length: 150 minutes
Summary: 17th century. A remote Exmoor valley is tormented by attacks from the murderous Doone clan. The father of farmer John Ridd has been murdered by them. When he meets the beautiful and shy Lorna Doone in the forest, he falls in love with her, despite her family name.
Familiar faces: Richard Coyle, Anthony Calf, Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle's War!), Joanne Frogatt, James McAvoy, Barbara Flynn
and Micheal Kitchen (Foyle's War!)
Watch this if:
- Just watch it! It's great! It's got everything: sweet romances, villains, battles, beautiful costumes and countryside, great acting etc. Best period piece I've watched in months!
Don't watch this if:
- You really don't want to watch any period dramas with battles in them
Best part: Hmmm, hard to choose, but I think the first time Lorna smiles at John Ridd, so sweet!
Silas Marner 1985
Adapted from: the novel by George Eliot
Length: 92 minutes
Summary: The weaver Silas Marner lives as a recluse after being unjustly accused of theft. All he lives for now is his work and his money, until a little girl walks into his life.
Familiar faces: Ben Kingsley, Patsy Kensit, Jim Broadbent
Watch this if:
- You like hopeful character-driven stories
Don't watch this if:
- You don't like period dramas without a romantic plot
Best part (Spoilers!): The speech Eppie gave to the squire and his wife at the end about her love for her 'father' Silas. It reduced me to tears!
Return of the Native 1994
Adapted from: the novel by Thomas Hardy
Length: 101 min
Summary: The beautiful Eustacia Vye wishes to leave the remote moorland village where she lives with her grandfather. Two man claim her affection, the local inkeeper Damon Wildeve and Clym Yeobright, a diamond merchant recently returned from Paris.
Familiar faces: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, Steven Mackintosh (Our Mutual Friend), Joan Plowright, Celia Imrie (Cranford)
Watch this if:
- You're in the mood for a story about a complicated woman and the two men who woe her
- You like period dramas set in sweeping moorland
- You're interested in the work of Zeta-Jones and Owen before they became Hollywood stars
Don't watch this if:
- You don't like Hardy's melodramatic heroines and love for depressive endings
Best part (Spoilers!): How the quiet love of Steven Mackintosh's character gets rewarded in the end
Lorna Doone 2000
Adapted from: the novel by R.D. Blackmore
Length: 150 minutes
Summary: 17th century. A remote Exmoor valley is tormented by attacks from the murderous Doone clan. The father of farmer John Ridd has been murdered by them. When he meets the beautiful and shy Lorna Doone in the forest, he falls in love with her, despite her family name.
Familiar faces: Richard Coyle, Anthony Calf, Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle's War!), Joanne Frogatt, James McAvoy, Barbara Flynn
and Micheal Kitchen (Foyle's War!)
Watch this if:
- Just watch it! It's great! It's got everything: sweet romances, villains, battles, beautiful costumes and countryside, great acting etc. Best period piece I've watched in months!
Don't watch this if:
- You really don't want to watch any period dramas with battles in them
Best part: Hmmm, hard to choose, but I think the first time Lorna smiles at John Ridd, so sweet!
Silas Marner 1985
Adapted from: the novel by George Eliot
Length: 92 minutes
Summary: The weaver Silas Marner lives as a recluse after being unjustly accused of theft. All he lives for now is his work and his money, until a little girl walks into his life.
Familiar faces: Ben Kingsley, Patsy Kensit, Jim Broadbent
Watch this if:
- You like hopeful character-driven stories
Don't watch this if:
- You don't like period dramas without a romantic plot
Best part (Spoilers!): The speech Eppie gave to the squire and his wife at the end about her love for her 'father' Silas. It reduced me to tears!
