Cranford

[pensnest]

I've just been watching 'Cranford'.

I'd seen its presence as a rerun on some of the cheap channels and decided it would make a good Father's Day gift for my FIL. We bought him the DVDs, and he watched and enjoyed them, and we've just borrowed them.

It's surprisingly endearing. I've not read any Elizabeth Gaskell, all I knew was that it's a period piece with an *amazingly* stellar cast—Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Imelda Staunton, Julia Mackenzie, Francesca Annis, Jim Carter, Julia Sawalha, Greg Wise and more. There's a kid (Alex Etel) in there who is stellar. Apparently the actor is at university now; I hope to see more of him when he graduates.

It's lovely. The team behind it is very much female, which is awesome, and most of the action shows us the women living their lives. Fandom would go straight for the handsome young doctor, of course (and probably slash him with the nice looking young carpenter), but the relationships between the women are the real substance. Plus, as Imelda Staunton points out in the 'making of', so many worthwhile parts for middle-aged (and old) women—real characters instead of background. As a middle-aged woman myself, I firmly appreciate this.

*

Part two, 'Return to Cranford', is set a couple of years later, and was recorded enough later that young Alex Etel was a foot taller! This is in two 90-minute parts, the first of which is a little disappointing in that the pace seems much more breakneck and overdramatic. But the second part takes its time again, and is lovely.

There are some cast changes—it brings in Jonathan Pryce and Michelle Dockery. It brings in, ahaha, Tom Hiddleston and Jodi Whittaker (who fall in love). It brings in Tim Curry! Really, what could be better? (Well, I suppose it could have had Patrick Stewart, but we cannot have everything.)

I recommend it, if you missed it first time round, and if you can find it.

Comments

[fleurrochard]

It's so lovely, isn't it? I've watched it with my Mum, and we loved it!

[dine]

I hadn't seen it, but that does sound just up my alley - I'll have to look out for it. thanks for the rec!

[pensnest]

I think I'll have to seek out the books now.

[pensnest]

I hope you happen across it somewhere. :-)

[adelate]

I watched Cranford a few years ago and it's absolutely lovely! I must've started to watch it for the Hiddleston (and since I like to start from the beginning, did so), but I definitely enjoyed the whole thing.

The miniseries of Gaskell's North and South is also very good, although quite different from Cranford. Also, it has Richard Armitage in it.

[frausorge]

I read Cranford several years ago, but I didn't know it had been adapted. Sounds like a fantastic cast!

[pensnest]

Ah - I wonder if my FIL would appreciate North and South! I know I would appreciate Richard Armitage.

[pensnest]

The cast is really excellent. As I've not read the stories, I don't know whether it is a good adaptation (I know Mrs Forester is actually an amalgamation of two women, one of whom owns the cow in pyjamas), but it does work very well.

[adelate]

I can't find an official trailer, but here's a bit of a snippet about it from a top ten countdown video (the link goes right to the time, but in case it doesn't work, it starts from 7:28). It's been ages since I've seen it, so I don't remember it down to the detail, but I remember it being a quality show.