Acclaimed writer Andrew Davies turns his talents to one of Charles Dickens' most brilliant novels - arguably the greatest ever depiction of Victorian London. Fresh and imaginative yet faithful to the original this thrilling fast-paced adaptation is shot with a contemporary edge. At its heart is the story of the icily beautiful Lady Dedlock who nurses a dark secret and the merciless lawyer Tulkinghorn who seeks to uncover it. The generous John Jarndyce struggling with his own past and his two young wards Richard and Ada are all caught up like Lady Dedlock ... in the infamous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce which will make one of them rich beyond imagination if it can ever be brought to a conclusion. As Tulkinghorn digs deeper into Lady Dedlock's past he unearths a secret that will change their lives forever and which is almost as astounding as the final outcome of the Jarndyce case. [show more]
I'm not convinced that I can say enough about how wonderful it is so I'll have to break it down into sections. I'll start by saying that I've read the book, although not until after I'd watched the dvd, but, for those that are interested, personally, I think that this adheres quite closely to the novel, and it definitely stays with the characters. The characters as they are on the screen is also how they are on the screen.
Now, the series itself. The actors are perfectly chosen. I was horrified at the idea of Gillian Anderson as Lady Deadlock, but she's superb, she's got the slightly empty feeling in her voice and in her performance that is so perfect for the character. And I cannot enthuse enough about how wonderful Burn Gorman was as Guppy. I can't think of any actor who has made me cringes so much that I was physically trying to burrow backwards into the sofa with my shoulder blades, he was brilliant. Mention also has to be made for Denis Lawson and Anna Maxwell Martin who were just perfect in their roles.
It's an Andrew Davies dramatisation, which is pretty much a BBC mark of excellence, his dramatisations are so good, and this is no different. It was originally screened in half hour episodes, which I struggled with, but you don't have to deal with that on the dvd, as you can just let it run straight through.
Long and short, it was absolutely brilliant, and I recommend it to absolutely everyone!
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. From the fog and squalor of Victorian London to the idyllic tranquillity of rural England, Dickens' tale of tragedy, intrigue and love, and stinging satire on the English legal system, is faithfully recreated in this BBC drama series. The story closely follows the characters involved in the infamous court case of Jarndyce versus Jarndyce that relies heavily on the production of an up-to-date will in order to settle the inheritance. Three young people are taken in by the generous guardian John Jarndyce to be cared for at Bleak House while they await the outcome of the court case. Meanwhile a ruthless lawyer is determined to find out the truth surrounding the Lady Dedlock's mysterious past and after deep investigation he makes a discovery that changes all their lives.
Epic BBC adaptation of the Dickens classic, with a script by acclaimed writer Andrew Davies and performances from Gillian Anderson, Denis Lawson, Charles Dance and Anna Maxwell Martin, amongst many others. High and low life in Victorian London is explored to the full when young Richard Carstone (Patrick Kennedy) and his cousin Ada (Carey Mulligan) are caught up in the interminable legal case of Jarndyce vs Jarndyce. Drawn into a world where the icy and composed Lady Dedlock (Anderson) hides a dark secret, and where their lives will be affected by the attentions of their friend Esther (Martin), their guardian Mr John Jarndyce (Lawson), and the predatory attentions of various unscrupulous lawyers, boarding house owners, and debt collectors, the two young cousins will each meet with very different ends as the case approaches its long-delayed conclusion.
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