Wives and Daughters: Amazon.ca: Justine Waddell, Bill Paterson, Francesca Annis, Keeley Hawes, Tom Hollander, Anthony Howell, Michael Gambon, Barbara Flynn, Deborah Findlay, Iain Glen, Peter Copley, Barbara Leigh-Hunt: DVD

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Given the great success of Pride and Prejudice (1995) and that Jane Austen wrote so little, the BBC and screenwriter Andrew Davies looked elsewhere for material of comparable quality. Wives and Daughters by Mrs (Elizabeth) Gaskell is set around 1860 and tells the story of 17-year-old Molly (Justine Waddell), beloved daughter of the widowed Dr Gibson (Bill Paterson). A mercenary stepmother (Francesca Annis) and inconstant stepsister (Keeley Hawes) bring refined havoc to genteel country life, with complications ensuing when both young women fall in love with the youngest son of Squire Hamley (Michael Gambon). This is a wonderfully observed insight into Victorian village life, encompassing comedy, romance and high emotion in a four-episode, five-hour adaptation. Making the most of Davies' subtle and detailed screenplay, there are great, flamboyant performances by Michael Gambon and Francesca Annis. Keeley Hawes, Barbara Flynn and Ian Glen are excellent too, but the revelation is the beguiling central performance by Justine Waddell, also the star of Great Expectations (1999). The photography and production design are gorgeous, as is John Keane's music. Wives and Daughters is as compelling and entertaining as any Jane Austen, and possibly Andrew Davies' best literary adaptation to-date. --Gary S. Dalkin

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Customer Reviews

72 Reviews

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4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (72 customer reviews)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great series - shame about the mutilation, May 22 2002

By

martin brent (london) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wives and Daughters [3 Discs] (DVD)

This miniseries was originally broadcast in the UK as a widescreen (16:9) version. When released on DVD in the UK and Australia it retained the widescreen anamorphic format. Sadly, BBC and Warners don't feel the American public is ready or deserving of such an innovation. Instead we are being sold a horrible reduction that has been crudely cropped at the edges. Instead of a lovely anamorphic widescreen picture it is a grainy, pixillated, slightly matted full frame (about 4.5:3). This wouldn't matter so much if the director and cinematographer hadn't clearly lavished so much care on composing their scenes to fit the widescreen format. The consequence is that in many shots the characters have half their faces missing and often appear to be talking to empty space. If you don't find this sort of thing a distraction, then I strongly reccommend this series - lavish production values, beautifully acted and the usual witty script with a contemporary (but not anachronisitic) feel from Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, House of Cards etc etc). All the more reson I think to blow a big fat rasberry to the BBC for needlessly and crudely mutilating so outstanding an achievement - and not even having the courage to 'fess up on the DVD case!!

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Like Jane Austen, Youll Love This!, April 22 2004

By

Marian Loreti (Annapolis, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wives & Daughters (VHS Tape)

I wasn't aware that Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote "Wives and Daughters," was one of the giants of nineteenth century English literature, but this adaptation of her book is simply wonderful!

Molly, the no-nonsense daughter of a widowed village doctor, is forced to cede the running of their household to her new stepmother, who is not quite as evil as Cinderella's but is a lot more supercilious. The stepmother's daughter, Cynthia, is another addition to the household, and Molly becomes her steadfast friend, even though Cynthia puts Molly in difficult situations and admits that she has never loved anyone in her entire life, including her mother. Everywhere, men fall swooning before the beautiful Cynthia, and Molly watches with alarm as Cynthia charms Roger, the second son of Squire Hamley, with whom she is infatuated. Complexities arise as ... well, watch the film.

What makes this film so enticing is the fine screenplay by Andrew Davies and the absolutely splendid acting by the entire company. You will enjoy detesting Francesca Annis (so memorable in "Lillie Langtry") as the stepmother who raises gold-digging to new heights, carefully evaluating each of Cynthia's suitors on the sole criterion of his ability to enhance her status and her bank balance. Michael Gambon ("The Singing Detective"), skillfully portrays the hot-headed squire, whose bark (worse than his bite) has tragic consequences. And Molly is played to perfection by Justine Waddell, who, while portraying the placid exterior of a country doctor's genteel daughter, can reveal her emotional interior with the merest twitch of an eyebrow. Ian Carmichael ("Lord Peter Wimsey") is sparingly used, but is, as always, enchanting. Supporting characters are played with consummate artistry, and the costumes and settings will dazzle you in an England in which, remarkably, it does not rain until the last scenes.

This production has characters that are not depicted as stereotypes - as in life, the leading roles occasionally falter and make bad judgments, and the flawed characters have their good points. This film will scoop you up and deliver you right into the middle of a world that looks and sounds different from ours, but that feels very, very familiar. "Wives and Daughters" is a winner!

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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A PERFECT COMBINATION!, July 18 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Wives & Daughters (VHS Tape)

Sue Birtwistle and Andrew Davies are, in my opinion, the best possible combination to make perfect period drama; they are like bread and butter. Ever since seeing Pride and Prejudice (another must-see!) when I was five, I've adored both Ms. Birtwistle and Mr. Davies, and have made an effort to see every film that they have contributed to. When Wives and Daughters premiered on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, I couldn't have been more thrilled. Lavish costumes, set design, and cinematography are always guaranteed when these two are working together.
Wives and Daughters was certainly no exception.
The film circles around Molly Gibson, brilliantly acted by Justine Waddell, who has also acted in many other period dramas. She plays her character with innocence and simplicity, and you feel for her as she struggles with her love for a man who is engaged to her step - sister. I couldn't wait for each instalment to air every week on Masterpiece Theatre, and now regularly watch it a few times a year.
Another favorite actress is Keely Hawes, who plays Molly's amiable yet flirtatious step - sister, Cynthia. She acts convincingly blind to her charms and also makes you feel rather sorry for her. Her admirer, Mr. Preston (played by Iain Glen) is also wonderfully cast as a spiteful, manipulating man who is used to getting what he wants. He makes you hate him one moment and sympathise with his hopeless love for Cynthia, who certainly does not return his affections. Rosamund Pike, who was cast as Lady Harriet, does a wonderful job portraying an upper-class woman who will not be messed around with. Though she is not a main character, Ms. Pike does a wonderful job. All in all, a wonderful cast.
The sets were perfect, too. Hamley Hall looks appropriately gloomy, dark, and dreary, while the Towers (where Lady Harriet lives) are lavish, enormous, and regal-looking. The Gibson's home is also ideal, with wonderfully unique gardens and herb houses, which make the film even more exquisite to watch.
If Pride and Prejudice and other films of that genre appeal to you, this is a film that you will certainly enjoy!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wives and Daughters
This four episode drama is absolutely wonderful. The performance of the whole cast was great, but Justine Waddell was outstanding. Stage direction was perfect. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Bill Bradbury

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done
Wives and Daughters was a pleasant surprise for me. I didn't know what to expect but I love BBC period drama so after having read the good reviews, I bought it. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Pamela Mckinnon