R.F. Delderfield's titular 1966 novel was adapted for this 13-part 1978 BBC series, which tells a rich, engrossing tale. Paul Craddock (Nigel Havers), an injured veteran of the Second Boer War, purchases a Devon estate that has fallen on hard times and revives both it and the surrounding area even as his personal life is racked by turmoil. The narrative begins in 1902, as Craddock returns to England and decides to invest his inheritance in a property in southwest England, becoming the new—albeit non-aristocratic—squire. The story continues through 1919, when his fate after serving in World War I is uncertain and the flu epidemic strikes. Much of the drama is devoted to Craddock's efforts to help the valley recover economically while learning how to deal with his sometimes troublesome tenants, but domestic matters are also covered—in particular, Craddock's two marriages, the first to the flighty daughter of the estate's former squire and the second to a hard-working, reliable commoner. Ultimately, Craddock emerges as a model of selfless service. While Delderfield's book extended through 1940, and a sequel treated the period from 1942 to 1965, the BBC did not dramatize those later portions of the Craddock saga. Inevitably the images in this 37-year old production are somewhat washed-out, but this sprawling saga can still be recommended. (F. Swietek)
A Horseman Riding By
Acorn, 4 discs, 673 min., not rated, DVD: $59.99 May 4, 2015
A Horseman Riding By
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