"A Woman of Substance" (1984) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Don Sharp

Writers:

Tom Blomquist (outline adaptation)
Barbara Taylor Bradford (novel)

Release Date:

25 November 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Woman of Substance charts the life of Emma Harte, from kitchen maid at the beginning of the 20th Century...

Plot Keywords:

Flashback Sequence | TV Mini-Series | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Jenny Seagrove	...	Young Emma Harte
Barry Bostwick	...	Maj. Paul McGill
Deborah Kerr	...	Emma Harte
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Diane Baker	...	Laura O'Neill
George Baker	...	Bruce McGill
Peter Chelsom	...	Edwin Fairley
John Duttine	...	Joe Lowther
Peter Egan	...	Adam Fairley
Mick Ford	...	Frank Harte
Christopher Gable	...	Arthur Ainsley
Christopher Guard	...	Gerald Fairley
Dominic Guard	...	Winston Harte
Del Henney	...	Jack Harte
Amanda Hillwood	...	Daisy McGill
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Olivia Wainwright
Robert James	...	Mr. Ainsley
Megs Jenkins	...	Mrs. Turner
Harry Landis	...	Abraham Kallinski
John Mills	...	Henry Rossiter
Barry Morse	...	Murgatroyd
Liam Neeson	...	Blackie O'Neill
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Elizabeth Harte
Nicola Pagett	...	Adele Fairley
Saskia Reeves	...	Edwina
Miranda Richardson	...	Paula McGill Amory
Joris Stuyck	...	David Kallinski

Runtime:

Germany:490 min (5 episodes) | USA:300 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Broughton Hall, Broughton, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Portman Artemis Prooduction

Trivia:

Still - as at July 2007 - the highest ever rated programme on Channel 4 in the UK - peaking at 13.84 million viewers on the third night - 4th January 1985.

Quotes:

Young Emma Harte: [to Gerald, after he has attempted to rape her early in the film] I mean to ruin you... all of you. The entire Fairley family.

Movie Connections:

Followed by To Be the Best (1992) (TV)

The Best Mini Series Ever!

This just has to be the best television mini-series ever produced. Based on the international best seller of the same name, with excellent actors against a backdrop of magnificent locations. Anyone who has read the book will only be more enchanted after they see the film. First, Jenny Seagrove has be one of the best actresses. Sadly I don't see her on much in the U.S. She plays the character of the young and ever determined Emma Harte brilliantly. The way she delivers the ice cold lines of revenge. She makes Joan Collin's Alexis look like a Sunday school teacher. This film also stars a young actor by the name of Liam Neeson as Blackie. When you see his performance in this film, you will know why he is a star today. And we must not forget that this is one of the last performances of Deborah Kerr. I believe her actual last performance was in the sequel to this film Hold The Dream. A Woman of Substance..always the Best!