I've read every book Charles Dickens wrote. I have to admit, this one was one of the hardest to stay with. However, seeing it dramatized makes me want to take it out again and give it another shot. The story involves two young people who are possible heirs to a huge sum of money that has been tied up in the courts for decades. We have a third, Esther, who is a common girl, who is there to look after the other young woman. It seems the man whose money it was left several wills and the lawyers have been battling over it. The three young people have been sent to a descendant of the late Mr. Jarndyce to live in his house until of age. There are a smattering of characters, a Mr. Guppy (you can imaging), a Mr. Nemo, Mrs & Mrs. Dedlock, and a cast of poor people, living off the streets. There is something suspicious about many of them. I assume, in true Dickens fashion, they will begin to show their true colors. Esther is the obvious heroine at this point.
4 Reviews
Outstanding Cast
Iverson675627 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I started to watch Bleak House initially because of Gillian Anderson but have since become a real fan of the series. I am especially taken with Anna Maxwell Martin's performance. Charles Dance is excellent in the role of the evil Mr. Tulkinghorn. Burn Gorman, plays the love smitten Guppy with the dark charm of a stalker. Phil Davis as Smallweed, is one character you just want to hate. Harold Skimpole, played by Nathaniel Parker, is one character you would not want as a guest at your dinner party.
I have always been impressed with BBC productions period pieces but this was one of the best.I have watched the entire series so I will comment on the other episodes as they are posted.
I have always been impressed with BBC productions period pieces but this was one of the best.I have watched the entire series so I will comment on the other episodes as they are posted.
"Careful how you spend it now"
TheLittleSongbird28 June 2019
While 'Bleak House' is a mighty fine book, it is also a very complicated one and one of the hardest Charles Dickens books to get into. Will admit to struggling with it on first read back when in secondary school, but it grew on me significantly over time and watching this adaptation actually did help. Dickens is not easy to adapt, and this applies for especially the more narratively sprawling ones, 'Bleak House' is one of the most difficult because it is long, has so many characters and has a lot going on (a lot of quite complex).
Of the two versions of 'Bleak House' seen, the other being the 1985 adaptation, it is hard to pick which one's the better of the two. Both are wonderful in their own way as adaptations and on their own merits, the earlier one is a little more faithful (though anybody who has not seen it yet and can be picky about pacing should be warned that it is slow) while this one is tighter in pace and for many perhaps more accessible.
This is a wonderful setting up episode of one of one of BBC's best period drama adaptations. They have become very hit and miss over-time and 'Bleak House' is a fond reminder of what they were like at their best.
Like the rest of the adaptation, Episode 1 looks fantastic. It's beautifully shot and the Victorian era is nailed in both look and atmosphere, although the buildings and costumes are so handsome to look at one can feel and smell the full impact of the dangerous living conditions present in the era. The music fits nicely.
Apparent from this first episode, a great job is done making such a complex story accessible and easy to follow while treating the source material and characters with intelligence and respect. There is not a changed beyond recognition vibe here. The dialogue is thought provoking and with the right emotional impact, type and amount, and while the story is setting things up it doesn't take too long to get to the point and there is not a sense that too little happens.
Everybody in the cast excels, with the outstanding performances coming from Gillian Anderson's haunted and aristocratic Lady Dedlock and Charles Dance's sinister Tulkinghorn. Loved the understated dignity of Denis Lawson as Jarndyce. Anna Maxwell Martin avoids making Esther too meek and Burn Gorman is a perfectly cast Guppy, would say the cast for the Dedlock of Timothy West. Nathaniel Parker is a Skimpole everybody loves to hate.
My only minor issue was with Clamb, saw no point to his character.
In conclusion, a wonderful start. 10/10
Of the two versions of 'Bleak House' seen, the other being the 1985 adaptation, it is hard to pick which one's the better of the two. Both are wonderful in their own way as adaptations and on their own merits, the earlier one is a little more faithful (though anybody who has not seen it yet and can be picky about pacing should be warned that it is slow) while this one is tighter in pace and for many perhaps more accessible.
This is a wonderful setting up episode of one of one of BBC's best period drama adaptations. They have become very hit and miss over-time and 'Bleak House' is a fond reminder of what they were like at their best.
Like the rest of the adaptation, Episode 1 looks fantastic. It's beautifully shot and the Victorian era is nailed in both look and atmosphere, although the buildings and costumes are so handsome to look at one can feel and smell the full impact of the dangerous living conditions present in the era. The music fits nicely.
Apparent from this first episode, a great job is done making such a complex story accessible and easy to follow while treating the source material and characters with intelligence and respect. There is not a changed beyond recognition vibe here. The dialogue is thought provoking and with the right emotional impact, type and amount, and while the story is setting things up it doesn't take too long to get to the point and there is not a sense that too little happens.
Everybody in the cast excels, with the outstanding performances coming from Gillian Anderson's haunted and aristocratic Lady Dedlock and Charles Dance's sinister Tulkinghorn. Loved the understated dignity of Denis Lawson as Jarndyce. Anna Maxwell Martin avoids making Esther too meek and Burn Gorman is a perfectly cast Guppy, would say the cast for the Dedlock of Timothy West. Nathaniel Parker is a Skimpole everybody loves to hate.
My only minor issue was with Clamb, saw no point to his character.
In conclusion, a wonderful start. 10/10
Bleak is the right name
ctyankee125 August 2011
I watched the 15 episodes. The story is about an inheritance fight that has been going on for years. The original Will was not found so the case was in and out of Court
Mr John Jarndyce Sr who is dead has relatives waiting for their inheritance. Mr John Jarndyce Jr lets two of them live in his house with a companion while they come of age and the inheritance settled. Mr Jarndyce Jr is now guardian and very kind to all of them.
This series is full of bleak circumstances. Just when you think things are improving some other tragedy happens. It shows streets full of poor dirty people, homeless people, children with no parents, hard jobs, little food, sick kids and more.
Some of the characters are very honorable like Miss Summerset/Anna Maxwell Martin, Lady Dedlock/Gillian Anderson, John Jarndyce Jr/Denis Lawson Sgt George/Hugo Speer and more. Some are humorous like Mr Guppy and his mother. Mr Tulkinghorn, Inspector Bucket/Alun Armstrong, Harold Simpole/Nathanel Hawthorn, are detestable as Mr Smallweed/Phil Davis-a dirty hateful loud character.
The houses, the scenery, the characters and the drama are all very depressing and hardly any thing good in this series happens accept the acting which is good.
The last few minutes have of the last episode have some surprising moments.
Mr John Jarndyce Sr who is dead has relatives waiting for their inheritance. Mr John Jarndyce Jr lets two of them live in his house with a companion while they come of age and the inheritance settled. Mr Jarndyce Jr is now guardian and very kind to all of them.
This series is full of bleak circumstances. Just when you think things are improving some other tragedy happens. It shows streets full of poor dirty people, homeless people, children with no parents, hard jobs, little food, sick kids and more.
Some of the characters are very honorable like Miss Summerset/Anna Maxwell Martin, Lady Dedlock/Gillian Anderson, John Jarndyce Jr/Denis Lawson Sgt George/Hugo Speer and more. Some are humorous like Mr Guppy and his mother. Mr Tulkinghorn, Inspector Bucket/Alun Armstrong, Harold Simpole/Nathanel Hawthorn, are detestable as Mr Smallweed/Phil Davis-a dirty hateful loud character.
The houses, the scenery, the characters and the drama are all very depressing and hardly any thing good in this series happens accept the acting which is good.
The last few minutes have of the last episode have some surprising moments.
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