Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy

Snagging an Emmy for its script, this 1985 six-part Masterpiece Theatre classic miniseries follows World War II hero Lord Louis Mountbatten as he organizes the withdrawal of British forces from India (1946-47) and oversees the splitting off of Pakistan in an attempt to prevent civil war. Neither his noble intentions, however, nor his earnest diplomatic massaging of the leaders of the various factions—Nehru (Ian Richardson), Gandhi (Sam Dastor), and others—can prevent sectarian violence from breaking out. Nicol Williamson portrays Mountbatten with a kind of weary sadness, fully aware of the enormity of his task and determined to carry it out not only in an equitable and responsible manner but with as much pomp and circumstance as possible, not because of any misguided hope of forestalling the inevitable end of colonialism, but simply rather to exit with honor. Backed by his equally dedicated wife, Lady Edwina (Janet Suzman)—a full partner in his efforts—Mountbatten is a melancholy witness to the shuttering of the British Empire. DVD extras include a text biography of Mountbatten and cast filmographies. Recommended. (M. Johanson)