Although it will have greatest appeal for devoted fans of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, this 1973 five-part ITV-aired British miniseries about the Brontë family—widowed clergyman Patrick; children Branwell, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne; and the aunt who served as their housekeeper—will also find favor with those who generally have a taste for period drama. Playwright Christopher Fry based his script on original sources—including letters written by the three sisters, and a biography of Charlotte by her friend and fellow novelist Elisabeth Gaskell, portions of which are read over the action. From an historical perspective, The Brontës of Haworth is remarkably accurate, but it's also geographically precise: some of the exterior scenes were shot at the Brontë home and surrounding environs in Yorkshire (although interiors shots were clearly done on soundstages). In terms of narrative pacing, the initial episodes focus more on the doomed Branwell (Michael Kitchen), depicting his slide into professional failure, romantic calamity, and fatal illness, while later segments recount the unlikely publishing success of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne (Vickery Turner, Rosemary McHale, and Ann Penfold, respectively) under male pseudonyms, and the early deaths of all three, with their father (Alfred Burke) surviving them into old age. Anyone interested in learning more about two of the greatest voices of 19th-century English literature (Charlotte and Emily) will find this series affords a fascinating glimpse into their simple provincial background, while also boasting uniformly splendid performances. DVD extras include a text family bio. Despite the unavoidably dated sound and visuals, this is enthusiastically recommended. (F. Swietek)
The Brontës of Haworth
Acorn, 2 discs, 260 min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 April 9, 2012
The Brontës of Haworth
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