Sex, scandal (and snippets of history)
If Downton doesn't do it for you, then try one of my costume drama recommendations. Happy viewing!
The Jewel in the Crown (ITV 1984):
Tension & Turmoil in British India
Until Indian Independence in 1947, unmarried British women were routinely shipped out to find an ex-pat husband in a county with three men for every one woman. Based on four novels by Paul Scott, the story starts with Daphne Manners, an innocent upper class girl whose romance with an Indian leads to tragic consequences. Full of mem sahibs chugging chota pegs (whisky), madness and marital infidelity, this is a colourful, yet serious portrait of the close of British rule in India.
A Harlot's Progress (Channel 4, 2006)
Vice and Virtue
Hogarth's 'The Harlot's Progress' series of prints are brought to life. The artist follows a young prostitute as she's decoyed into the trade, rises to become a courtesan, and dies penniless and syphilitic. The mucky realities of eighteenth century made vividly real.
Lilies (BBC, 2007)
Bright Young (Working Class) Things
Three sisters struggle to escape the drab back streets of post-First World War Liverpool. Postwoman Ruby goes into the corset trade after losing her job to a returning soldier; servant May embarks on an affair with her employer; and religious Iris wanders into a disastrous marriage to an ex-soldier. With the characters coping with wartime trauma and plot lines including a gay brother and alcoholic father, this is a vibrant, but often dark, and always absorbing working class drama.
Other cracking costume dramas
The House of Eliott (BBC, 1991-1994):
Impoverished middle class sisters start a fashion house in 20s London. A classic.
Re-telling of Jane Eyre. Back street prostitute Sugar is disguised as a governess by a rich businessman whose wife is descending into madness.
Aristocrats (BBC 1999)Sex, political wrangling & lashings of scandal - the stories of the Lennox sisters, based on Stella Tillyard's excellent biography.
Small Island (BBC 2008)
The lives of snobbish Jamaican Hortense and unhappily married Queenie intersect in grimy post-war London.
The Devil's Whore (Channel 4, 2008)
A romp through the English Civil War era as Royalist aristocrat Angelica Fanshawe turns prostitute and revolutionary.
Berkeley Square (BBC, 1998)
Baby-doping, illegitimacy and amorous employers - a nanny's life isn't all fairy tale in Edwardian London!
Three books I wish someone would adapt for TV
West End Girls by Barbara Tate
The memoir of Barbara Tate, a budding artist, who escaped suburbia for 50s Soho and a job as a prostitute's maid for charismatic Mae.
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
My favourite historical novel. A scheming heroine unprincipled enough to rival Becky Sharp climbs the social ladder in Restoration England. Fascinating, detailed and wicked!
Twopence to Cross the Mersey, by Helen Forrester
The first in Helen Forrester's series of memoirs of poverty in wartime Liverpool. Root for downtrodden teenage Helen, bespectacled and shy, as she dreams of love.
And if you've enjoyed this piece, please share your own favourites in the comment box below!
8 comments:
Can I be the only person who is angry and frustrated that a so so soap opera will hog time on Masterpiece Theater again? Not wanting to have to suffer through another season of Downton Abbey, I'm very grateful for your DVD suggestions, many of which I've not seen before.
Thanks!
Nanina
I've never heard of some of those myself--they sound fascinating!
I doubt this is on DVD (I found it on YouTube,) but I've been watching a 13-part docudrama about Edward VII. It's from 1975, so it's dated in some ways--a "period" period piece, you might say--but it's still quite entertaining.
Though when it comes to costume dramas, I don't know if they'll ever top "I, Claudius."
First of all, I love the image from Singing in the Rain that graces this post...made me smile, considering the subject!
Good set of options. I love House of Elliot and can't believe my good fortune in stumbling on it as no one else seems to have watched it, in the U.S. anyway.
I still haven't read or watched Jewel in the Crown, but am thinking about making that a 2013 project.
I was surprised to read the Crimson Petal and the White's blurb. I didn't like the book and stopped reading it 1/3 of the way in but that's not storyline that I remember. Now I'm curious, but not so much as to start reading it again :)
I heartily recommend Jewel in the Crown - both books and series! The adaptation of Crimson Petal is quite different from the book, (which I enjoyed but found a bit long). Worth a watch.
Let me know if you enjoy them!
Jen
Island At War - much better than the Potato Peel pie book.
The Forsyte Saga - the Black and White 1971 original series...and the books by John Galsworthy.
All Creatures Great and Small
Danger: UXB - the first thing I did on retiring from my full time job was watch this again.
Thanks a lot for these Jen, I'm another one who hadn't heard of many of them. Will be picking up 'Lilies', 'Westend Girls' and 'Berkley Square' for sure.
Laurie
www.bloggingbutler.blogspot.com
I loved House of Elliot. My roommate and I used to watch it together when we were working on our MFAs in Costume Design. There are so many great costume dramas out there. Another classic costume drama was Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.
I loved House of Elliot. My roommate and I used to watch it together when we were working on our MFAs in Costume Design. There are so many great costume dramas out there. Another classic costume drama was Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.
Post a Comment