Customer Reviews
Excellent in every way (and I don't often say that!) - By: Meerkat, 23 Sep 2007 
I don't know how I missed this when it came on TV back in 1998 ... but I'm sure glad I found it now.
This is an extremely good adaptation of a very readable Dickens novel - if you haven't read the novel, I'd recommend it. This adaptation cleverly keeps 90% of the original story while leaving out a couple of minor characters that add interest to the novel but are not necessary. The casting, locations, storyline, everything are spot on & it is a cracking story.
If you are a fan of costume drama, you reallly don't want to miss this one.
Oh, & have a go at the book, too - but give yourself a lot of time, it's MASSIVE!
The Feeling's Mutual - By: J. Davis, 23 Sep 2007 This series sets out to enthralll & entertain & accomplishes both in superb fashion.
It's a complicated story, with many well-defined characters, & it's a bit of a chore to keep them sorted, but it's worth the effort. This is a tour de force of production & acting. It's a little gruesome in parts, but it brings home the look, the feel, the dirtiness & -- almost -- the smells of riverside London. The additional background interviews with the producers & actors is worth watching for the history alone.
The fly in the ointment in the DVD version I watched (in the USA) is that the screen aspect was slightly compressed, narrowing the facial features. A minor gripe & readily ignored.
Dickens lives!
Dickens for people who don't like Dickens - By: J. Parker, 10 Sep 2007 I freely admit, I find Dickens' books unreadable & adaptations of his books usuallly unwatchable (I except the recent version of Bleak House).
I only watched this adaptation because of the cast & I was bowled over. It's beautiful to look at, I read the book afterwards & could see alll those vivid images & the characters as protrayed by the actors in my mind in a way that I doubt would have happened if I hadn't seen this adaptation.
There are so many scenes which are stunning to look at. Perhaps that brings me back to my reason for not liking Dickens - that the characters are somehow lacking & that the background is more important. But speaking as a Dickensaphobe, I felt the background did the job & I was utterly enthrallled.
The most haunting character for me was Bradley Headstone played superbly by David Morrisey. A truly wonderful portrayal of a man in torment, trying so desperately to keep a lid on things.
The women characters (often in Dickens novels seeming to me to be a bit too simpering) were strong. In the case of Lizzie Hexham (Keeley Hawes) gentle but without being a doormat. Bella Wilfer (Anna Friel), a bit flighty but fundamentallly decent.
Eugene Wrayburn (Paul McGann) the bored lawyer who is woken up by the sight of Lizzie & the enigmatic John Rokesmith, Steven Mackintosh, the other stand out star so far as I am concerned. I can't describe his performance without giving the plot away but he shows so many moods, form the gentle to the terrifying.
Even if you don't like Dickens, you will like this.
Another 5 Star BBC Production - By: vessie@oz, 05 Jun 2007 What a production!!!
If you enjoy Charles Dickens you will not be disappointed with this production.
a wonderful adaptation - By: Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane, 10 May 2007 I remember seeing this excellent adaptation when it first came out on BBC TV, one of a long & very distinguished list of productions of classic novels ('Bleak House' & 'North & South', both of which were wonderful, have been more recent examples). It just seems to be something the BBC do very very well. The recent ITV adaptations of Jane Austen have seemed pedestrian, unnecessarily quirky & inept by comparison, with the possible exception of 'Northanger Abbey'. Anyway, this Dickens adaptation has alll the familar halllmarks - a very strong sense of atmosphere, particularly in the scenes on & by the Thames, a screenplay that is both clear & inclusive, managing the complex array of characters & plot development very expertly, excellent direction & some wonderful performances, particularly from Keeley Hawes as Lizzie Hexham & David Morrissey, rivetingly watchable as the agonised, monstrous schoolmaster Headstone. When I first saw it it sent me off to read the book (which is marvellous) & I was again impressed by how faithful & powerful it was. Highly recommended.
