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Summary: "Wives and Daughters": A Complete Delight
Review: When "Wives and Daughters" aired on my local broadcasting station earlier this year, I made sure that I was in front of the television watching it every Sunday night. I could hardly wait to discover the outcome of the story. Unlike most series, "Wives and Daughters" is not completely predictable and it was so wonderfully acted, written, produced, etc. In short, "Wives and Daughters" is a complete delight-one that I am sure almost anyone will enjoy.
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Summary: A.A.H.
Review: Delightful, Interesting, just plain Amusing. What characters! Very well acted. Very convincing. It keeps you guessing. Very well done all around.
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Summary: Glorious Adaptation of the book
Review: Simply glorious adaptation of the Mrs Gaskell's unfinished Novel - and although the story has been finished for us by Andrew Davies (who adapted Pride and Prejudice for the Screen) I didn't feel he did anything more than tie up one loose end - that of Molly - the rest of the story was left relatively untouched. This is the story of poor motherless Molly and her devoted father. He decides to remarry and the choice of wife does not prove to be wise for his new wife (and step-daughter) bring with them varying degrees of selfishness and vanity. Mrs Gaskell has imbued Molly's step-mother (Played perfectly by Francesca Annis) with a character who has a sense of superiority, complete selfishness and an utter blindness to her own faults. Her daugther has a self-confidence and self-indulgence that makes her both adored by all and almost machiavellian in achieving her own ends. In the background are Molly's old friends, the Squire, his wife and the Squire's two sons - one of whom she loves the other of whom she wishes and tries to help. Unfortunately her step-mother has designs for her natural daughter and the Squire's heir, and Molly's true love only seems to have eyes for her step sister. The actors have been well chosen for their parts - Molly is played very well by Justine Waddell, but the absolute stand out has to be Francesca Annis as her step-mother. I loved this book and this adaptation was not a disappointment. The story is lively, the machinations to find true love amusing and the filming is wonderful. It really evokes (to me anyway) England of the 1820's and 30's with glorious settings, beautiful gardens, immaculate costuming and make-up. Highly recommended
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Summary: domestic scenes, historic trends
Review: This is an especially fine piece of television drama. The screenplay is intelligent and witty, and inspires a real interest in the material and the characters. Gambon and Waddell are outstanding among an almost faultless cast. The characters of Molly and Cynthia are endearing at a human level, but also fascinating as emblems of the cultural and social changes - both limitations and possibilities - affecting women in the 19th century. Neither is a spokeswoman for any '-ism', but each provides a moving and articulate response to the greater issues of power and responsibility. The emerging scientific challenges to religious and social (and familial) orthodoxies, also explored, are dramatised neither self-consciousnessly nor by imposing a false note upon the narrative of several ordinary lives. I found this story worth savouring and re-viewing.
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Summary: After You've Memorized All the Jane Austen BBC Productions..
Review: Are you in a funk because you can recite Lizzie's lines along with her in Pride and Prejudice, hum every piano note in the score of Persuasion, match all the facial expressions of Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility? Are you wondering if there's anything left to watch on TV after you've memorized all the Jane Austen BBC productions? Then make a cup of hot tea and sink into the world of Elizabeth Glaskell's Wives and Daughters. It's a superb adaptation of an excellent book that combines wit, pathos, humor, social commentary and wonderful characterizations. This video will easily slip into place as one of your BBC treasures.
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Summary: Mesmerizing period piece.
Review: This was a great series and I found myself intrigued and eagerly awaiting what would happen next. Generally a bit slow mvoing, it still held your interest. The costumes, locations and sets were gorgeous. Filled with pathos, touchy social situations, and your differing social levels or places in society it moved along steadily and kept your interest with a good script, hilarious dialogue and rich, beliveable characterizations. You could empathize readily with the main character and you wanted to see what would happen to this innocent young woman. Although I mentioned that the pace was a bit slow, I found it enjoyable. Through the slower pace you felt the tensions, the romantic longings and the supressed feelings. You could actually feel the hardship Molly suffered in silence and the pain of her bottled feelings. The actress who played Molly was superb and you found yourself rooting for her while everyone around her seemingly calm presence went a bit batty. I guess we all feel like Molly from time to time! Again, the locations and the clothing added to the drama immensely. Most incredible! If you love period pictues, you will love this one. Reading the other commentators I must say: I don't think it is even reasonable to compare Wives and Daughters with A&E's Pride and Prejudice. Let's face it, P&P was amazing. This series has it's own charms as well, but it is an altogether different story with a different theme and tonality. Give credit where credit is due. As much as we all love Pride and Prejudice, we should give other "period " pictures credit without constantly holding it up to the light of A&E's wonderful Pride and Prejudice. I know it is hard not to, I have caught myself doing the very same thing! The author of W&D, Gaskell, really was quite a different writer than Jane Austen. Although many of us find it hard to believe, there are other authors out there beyond the wonderful Jane Austen! I am trying to tell myself that and expand.
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Summary: Delightful DVD extras!
Review: After seeing the mini-series on PBS, I just had to read the book and buy the DVD! The same production team that made the wonderful 1996 adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" did a superb job in adapting "Wives and Daughters." The cast also does justice to the way the characters were written by Mrs. Gaskell -- my only reservations were Keely Hawes as the beautiful Cynthia (her hair style was very unappealing; in "Our Mutual Friend" she is ten times more good-looking), and Anthony Howell as Roger had to grow on me after a few viewings to be fully appreciated. But Justine Waddell just shines as Molly, and Bill Paterson as Mr. Gibson and Sir Michael Gambon as Squire Hamley are in top form (the latter justly deserving all the kudos and awards he received in the UK). I was immensely pleased with the 3-disc DVD. The first two have each two episodes, as shown on TV, with scene selection capabilities (my only complaint is that they do not have any subtitles available). The picture is crystal clear and very sharp. Other BBC productions, such as P&P and Emma, which are much darker, don't age particularly well, but the brightness in Wives and Daughters makes it fresh and the quality equals that of a feature film. The third disc is reserved for the extra features: cast bios (the print could have been a bit larger) and two "featurettes", "Who the Dickens is Mrs. Gaskell?" and the "Making-of" of Wives and Daughters. The Making-of is just delightful. It runs 20 minutes long, and shows a lot of cast-member interviews (some in modern clothes, which is a real kick -- Anthony Howell in jeans and t-shirt! Justine Waddell in a bath robe!) and they all provide a lot of valuable insight into the characters. The documentary on Mrs. Gaskell is interesting, but the first 15 minutes (out of 50) are the best, as they again show more behind-the-scenes of Wives and Daughters. The rest mostly follows a group of Gaskell enthusiasts as they visit the places she lived in and discuss her other works. If you enjoyed the book and the mini-series, buy the DVD -- it is worth every penny!
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Summary: A Beautiful Adaptation of My Favorite Gaskell Novel!!
Review: This is just a brilliant adaptation. I personally think that it is even better made than 'Pride and Prejudice'(I mean the TV series). The whole cast did a wonderful job in acting out this wonderful Gaskell novel in such an authentic way that it just draws you to the characters and the storyline as much as Mrs. Gaskell's novel did to her readers, and Molly is so lovely that you just can't help but have to love her. However if you haven't read the novel yet, I definitely recommend you to do so, for I do believe the novel is even better than the series, and that it definitely worths a read!
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Summary: A Delightful, Sentimental, Intimate, and Beautiful Treat
Review: When a good story is told right, it makes it delicious. Masterpiece Theatre's "Wives and Daughters" , in it's 4 hour glory, leaves you with that sad nostalgic feeling of a good friend leaving you for a very long time. It's beautiful, deligthful, and might I say, very, very pretty (and hilariously funny). The story is about Molly Gibson, and her dealings with everyday life, paticularly when she aquires 2 new friends, an irritating twit of a social climbing stepmother, a loving and fashionable stepsister, and 3 nasty secrets, all at the same time. These characters become enmeshed with each other and innocent Molly gets caught up. There's tragedy, humor, and heartbreak, and proposals, and intrigue, and hatred and a forthright compassionate heroine we see much of in English Literature, but Molly Gibson captures your heart and so do the other characters. Gaskell was trying to create a story that showcased how humans treat each other, how we should not judge by rank or place, how we all share the same basic feelings and emotions, the same world. The acting is the focal point of the series. Justine Waddell is perfection (incredibly talented lady) and the rest of the cast fit descriptions given in the book to a tee, and act their parts out with immense talent, humor, grace, fire, and passion. The cinematography completely captures the English countryside and the score is lovely. The costumes are period, authentic, and very well studied and made. This is one of those rare treats we get every once in a while, and I highly recommend you sit and watch. You'll learn something about the world we live in and the human race we belong to.
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Summary: A PERFECT COMBINATION!
Review: Sue Birtwistle and Andrew Davies are, in my opinion, the best possible combination to make perfect period drama; they are like bread and butter. Ever since seeing Pride and Prejudice (another must-see!) when I was five, I've adored both Ms. Birtwistle and Mr. Davies, and have made an effort to see every film that they have contributed to. When Wives and Daughters premiered on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, I couldn't have been more thrilled. Lavish costumes, set design, and cinematography are always guaranteed when these two are working together.
Wives and Daughters was certainly no exception.
The film circles around Molly Gibson, brilliantly acted by Justine Waddell, who has also acted in many other period dramas. She plays her character with innocence and simplicity, and you feel for her as she struggles with her love for a man who is engaged to her step - sister. I couldn't wait for each instalment to air every week on Masterpiece Theatre, and now regularly watch it a few times a year.
Another favorite actress is Keely Hawes, who plays Molly's amiable yet flirtatious step - sister, Cynthia. She acts convincingly blind to her charms and also makes you feel rather sorry for her. Her admirer, Mr. Preston (played by Iain Glen) is also wonderfully cast as a spiteful, manipulating man who is used to getting what he wants. He makes you hate him one moment and sympathise with his hopeless love for Cynthia, who certainly does not return his affections. Rosamund Pike, who was cast as Lady Harriet, does a wonderful job portraying an upper-class woman who will not be messed around with. Though she is not a main character, Ms. Pike does a wonderful job. All in all, a wonderful cast.
The sets were perfect, too. Hamley Hall looks appropriately gloomy, dark, and dreary, while the Towers (where Lady Harriet lives) are lavish, enormous, and regal-looking. The Gibson's home is also ideal, with wonderfully unique gardens and herb houses, which make the film even more exquisite to watch.
If Pride and Prejudice and other films of that genre appeal to you, this is a film that you will certainly enjoy!
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