The Secret Garden (BBC) - 1974

To me, this film adaptation of the timeless book by Frances Hodgson Burnett stunk.   I usually love classic productions by the BBC but this I did not care for at all.  It was originally released as a television mini-series in 1974.  There are much better film adaptations of The Secret Garden.

I did not recognize much of a transformation in the main character (Mary Lennox) in this version. 

The only character that I loved and thought did a great job in this film is the bird.
 

The Impressionists - Movie by the BBC

Since I am a fan of French Impressionist art it should come as a surprised that I purchased this DVD.  I fully admit without any shame that handsome British actor Richard Armitage playing the younger Claude Monet was also incentive for me to buy this DVD.  Mr. Armitage is great eye candy and if it was not for him I would not have heard of this movie.  I was looking for other productions that Richard Armitage has been in and that is when I came across this movie. 

Anyway, aside from Mr. Armitage being in this movie, it really is a wonderful production.  It focuses on how the Impressionist movement began.  The artists that are featured are Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas and Frederic Bazille.  This movie conveys clearly the amount of rejection these artists received before the world would finally offer up the appreciation for Impressionist paintings that they deserve.

I love how the movie incorporates many of the paintings of these artist in the storyline.  It is also not rushed but instead unfolds in a way that is lovely.  The cinematography is outstanding.  The acting is very good.  I love everything about this movie and will watch it again and again.

 Richard Armitage portrays the younger Claude Monet

 

        Julian Glover portrays the older and wiser Monet

 Monet with fellow Impressionist painters Frederic Bazille, Pierre-Auguste Renior, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne and Edgar Degas .

Monet paints Woman in the green Dress.  Her name is Camille Doncieux and she became Monet's lover and eventually his first wife.

 

Camille becomes pregnant with their son Jean.  Monet then marries Camille.  Camille later gives birth to another son Michel.  In real life Claude did not marry Camille until Jean is nearly three years old.

Camille posed for a lot of Monet's work.  I see that as very romantic actually.  Imagine being married to an artist and you are his muse.  That would sit very well with me. 

Camille was already in frail health when she became pregnant with their second son.  That pregnancy did her in and in 1879 Camille passed away.  It is not really clear what she died from.  It is speculated that she either had pelvic cancer or possibly a botched abortion.

In 1876, department store magnate Ernest Hoscede' commissioned Monet to do some paintings for his Salon.  Ernest went bankrupt in 1977 and he moved into Monet and Camille's house.  Ernest's wife Alice would later become Monet's second wife.

Alice Hoscede' Monet was played by one of my favorite British actresses, Amanda Root.  I loved her as Anne Eliot in Persuasion and other BBC productions.   If Amanda Root is single I wonder if Richard Armitage ever thought of asking her out.  They would make such a lovely couple.  Richard would make the perfect husband for ME but since he doesn't even know that I exist I will approve Amanda....hee hee haa haa

I was kept interested throughout this movie and enjoyed the pace.  It is sad at times because of the demise of Camille Monet, Frederic Bazille and Edouard Manet.  Everyone's story touches your heart and you appreciate these artist and the Impressionist movement even more.

 

He Knew He Was Right

 Louis and Emily Trevelyan played expertly by Oliver Dimsdale and Laura Fraser

 One of the most interesting movies that I have seen this year so far is a period English drama titled He Knew He Was Right.  The movie is based on the novel of the same name written by Anthony Trollope in 1869.  

He Knew He Was Right is a BBC production that was done in four episodes for television in 2004.  I have unlimited streaming on Netflix so one Saturday afternoon I decided to watch it.  This movie drew me completely in right from the start.  I would even say that it fascinated me as the main story and sub plots unfolded. 

Louis Trevelyan is a young and wealthy Englishman.  Louis travels to the fictional Mandarin island near Britain where he meets and falls deeply in love with Emily Rowley, the eldest daughter of the governor, Sir Marmaduke Rowley.  Louis marries Emily and brings her to London to live.  The marriage starts out as an extremely happy one.  Emily is as much in love with her husband as Louis is with her.  They eventually have a son together and all remains well in the Trevelyan household.

    Emily Trevelyan with her godfather Colonel Osborne

 The problem starts when Emily's godfather Colonel Osborne starts visiting her.  The fact that he is coming to see his goddaughter is not so much the problem.  The problem is that he is visiting Emily way too much.  He is always at the Trevelyan house and in Victorian England, that is not appropriate.  Colonel Osborne does not ask to see Emily and her husbands; he only wants to visit Emily.  People start to talk.  Louis requests that Colonel Osborne not visit her so often, but Emily being strong willed stubbornly refuses to stop Colonel Osborne from visiting her on principle.  Emily really does love her husband and would never cheat on him, so she believes that her husband should not care what others think or feel threatened by Colonel Osborne.  This, to me, is Emily's first and biggest mistake.  Her total disregard fr how her husband felt and allowing Colonel Osborne to visit her so often makes her complicit in Louis's deterioration.  

     Colonel Osborne played by Bill Nighy.

Louis Trevelyan becomes jealous of Colonel Osborne and he starts getting into arguments with Emily over Colonel Osborne's too frequent visits.  Colonel Osborne having found out that Louis is now very jealous is extremely flattered by it.  To know that young Louis Trevelyan sees him, Colonel Osbornes as a threat and rival for the affections of Emily puts his ego into huge overdrive.  Colonel Osborne does nothing to ease Louis's mind and even deliberately antagonizes the situation.  A huge rip is torn into the fabric of Louis and Emily's marriage and they eventually separate.  Louis is still madly in love with his wife though and his mental unraveling is quite sad and even scary.  

            Emily's sister Nora Rowley.  Nora attracts two suitors.

 Clergyman Gibson with sisters Arabella and Camilla French.  Arabella is very mild mannered and Camilla is domineering.  The sister are competing to become the clergyman's wife.

 Jemima Stanbury is a very manipulative spinster.

Jemima Stanbury with her niece Dorothy

Besides the ,main plot of this movie, there are several other sub plots that will keep you glued to this 4 part miniseries.  The period costumes are fabulous and the actors give superb performances.

  Emily Trevelyan

I enjoyed the style of filming.  At certain parts one of the main actors would turn and look straight into the camera speaking their lines as if he or she was speaking directly to you about their situation.

  

If you ever get a chance to watch this miniseries l would love to know your thoughts about it.