Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865), or Mrs. Gaskell as she was frequently called, isn't one of the better known Victorian novelists, nor is Wives and Daughters, her last (and unfinished) novel, considered a masterpiece. Nevertheless, this lovingly mounted five-hour 1999 BBC adaptation from writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice) and director Nicholas Renton proves to be thoroughly charming and engaging. The heroine is Molly Gibson (sprightly Justine Waddell)—daughter of a dedicated country doctor—whose attraction to one of the sons of the local squire is undermined not only by class differences, childhood friendships, and an irksome stepmother and flighty stepsister, but also by others who share with her reputation-endangering romantic confidences. Wives and Daughters is a complicated tale of domestic intrigue and misguided emotions that moves at an unhurried pace, brought to life by a fine cast, which includes Bill Paterson as Molly's father and Michael Gambon as the old-school squire. There's a happy ending, of course, and while this may feel rather like second-tier Jane Austen, even lesser Austen is better than most anyone else. DVD extras include a fine “making-of” featurette, and the hour-long documentary “Who the Dickens Is Mrs. Gaskell?”, which celebrates the author's work and spotlights a group of Gaskell devotees who might have stepped out of a BBC miniseries themselves. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)
Wives and Daughters
BBC, 3 discs, 300 min., not rated, DVD: $39.98 Volume 21, Issue 5
Wives and Daughters
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