Darwin's Darkest Hour

Charles Darwin, who popularized the theory of evolution, remains one of the modern world's most important and controversial figures. In this NOVA/National Geographic docudrama, the viewer is transported back to the late 1850s, just before Darwin's book On the Origin of Species made him famous and turned the world of science upside down. The “darkest hour” refers to the naturalist's anguish about whether he should proceed with the publication of his work, knowing the effect that the inevitable religious backlash would have on his family. At the same time, Darwin and his loving but devout and independent-minded wife, Emma, must cope with deep personal tragedies, notably the death of their infant son and the prior death of a daughter. Darwin's Darkest Hour boasts handsome sets, costumes, and locations (it was shot in Nova Scotia), as well as good acting by Henry Ian Cusick as Darwin and Frances O'Connor as Emma. But the script by John Goldsmith is much better at explaining Darwin's scientific treatises than presenting a compelling story. Directed by John Bradshaw, the production diligently explores passages in the scientist's life, including his all-important voyage on the Beagle, which solidified his beliefs as a naturalist, but becomes bogged down in flashbacks and includes too many inert episodes in which Darwin relays lengthy portions of his theories to Emma. Still, given the interest in Darwin on the 150th anniversary of the publication of his landmark book (not to mention the new feature film Creation, starring real-life couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly as Charles and Emma), this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)