Lady Chatterley (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

D.H. Lawrence (novel)
Ken Russell (writer)

Release Date:

6 June 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Lady Constance Chatterley is married to the handicapped Sir Clifford Chatterley, who was wounded in the First World War...

Plot Keywords:

Sexual Awakening | Cuckold | Female Rear Nudity | Male Nudity | Female Nudity

Cast

Joely Richardson	...	Lady Chatterley
Sean Bean	...	Mellors
James Wilby	...	Sir Clifford Chatterley
Shirley Anne Field	...	Mrs. Bolton
Hetty Baynes	...	Hilda
Ken Russell	...	Sir Michael Reid
Brian Blessed	...	Petty Officer
Breffni McKenna	...	Donald Forbes
Pat Keen	...	Mrs. Mellors
Amanda Murray	...	Mrs. Draycott
P.J. Davidson	...	Gamekeeper
Judith Paris	...	Mrs. Marshall
David Sterne	...	Field
Melanie Hughes	...	Simpson
Michael Turner	...	Rector Asby

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2007) | Australia:M | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Sean Bean (Oliver Mellors) was called back at the beginning of filming to shoot extra shots on his previous film, Patriot Games (1992) - and during a fight scene, Harrison Ford hit him with a boat hook, which left him with stitches, and later a scar, on his forehead.

Quotes:

Mellors: I want yer... through 'ere

Movie Connections:

Version of Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981)

There are reasons the title has been abbreviated...

Although this film wasn't thoroughly disappointing, I found it to be somewhat wanting. Before I begin, however, please observe that this mini isn't merely "based-" (a phrase often misused and given far greater emphasis than deserved) "-upon" one of D. H. Lawrence's versions of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover', but contains elements and references to - unless I'm mistaken - all three of them. This might account for the fact that the title of this miniseries has been slightly abbreviated and no longer fully resembles that of the one (version) most commonly known. Anyway, I feel I ought to warn lazy students out there thinking they might get away with just watching this instead of reading the novel - that by the way I find absolutely wonderful!

So, about this series: The acting in many scenes seems 'made for TV' and the dialogue often appears less than natural. That is to say, the actors really wait for their counterparts to finish their lines before uttering their own, something which may be befitting for a stage play, but certainly not for a moving picture, unless adapted especially for senior citizens who'd rather take their time than experience something more or less normal.

Also, Clifford's sudden outbursts and high-school-drama-club type acting gave me the impression he had suffered head trauma or perhaps an aneurysm in addition to his damaged lower half. Watch out especially for his embarrassingly poor and exaggeratedly theatrical (and "un-French") recital of Racine. Oh, and let's not forget Connie's ridiculous tango with her sister, or the ridiculous sister for that matter.

However, I don't want to advise anyone to avoid this adaptation. Richardson and Bean do a good job and are a very convincing couple. The scenes depicting sexual congress, as well as the 'innocent' nude scenes, are few and tastefully arranged. Also, much of Bean's dialogue has been cut down to avoid contrasting too severely with what is essentially well-made (TV-)erotica.

All in all, though not a masterpiece, this is a presentable homage to Lawrence.