Daniel Deronda (2002) (TV)

Director:

Tom Hooper

Writers:

Andrew Davies (writer)
George Eliot (novel)

Release Date:

24 November 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Jew | Bookstore | Necklace | Sephardic | Cigar

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Hugh Dancy	...	Daniel Deronda
Romola Garai	...	Gwendolen Harleth
Hugh Bonneville	...	Henleigh Grandcourt
Jodhi May	...	Mirah Lapidoth
Edward Fox	...	Sir Hugo Mallinger
Amanda Root	...	Mrs. Davilow
David Bamber	...	Lush
Greta Scacchi	...	Lydia Glasher
Barbara Hershey	...	Contessa Maria Alcharisi
Celia Imrie	...	Mrs. Meyrick
Jamie Bamber	...	Hans Meyrick
Allan Corduner	...	Herr Klesmer
Michael Attwell	...	Rev. Gascoigne
Jordan Frieda	...	Rex Gascoigne
Anna Steel	...	Catherine Arrowpoint

Runtime:

210 min (3 parts) | Finland:210 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Avington Park, Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The novel is set at the same time as the U.S. Civil War, whereas the adaptation moves the action ahead ten years to 1874 - the year George Eliot actually began writing the novel.

Goofs:

Continuity: At Ezra Cohen's store, the baby's left shoe and sock disappear then reappear.

Movie Connections:

Version of Daniel Deronda (1921)

Soundtrack:

On Wings of Song

"I don't love her any more than she loves me. That's not the point."

Having never read George Eliot's novel, I came into the film with only what I know based on the information friends have given me. The film is utterly exquisite. The costuming alone will have Anglophiles like myself crying from sheer envy, and there's enough archery, riding, and balls to weigh out the seriousness of the film, which is essentially two plots woven into one. An utterly heartless and wretched marriage for a spoiled young Gwendolyn in the form of the evil Grandcourt, a landowner whose sole pleasure lies in torment. Be it his wife or dogs, our heartless villain never takes greater pleasure than in dangling something before them and tearing it away again, only to feed it to someone else. We see a kind of barbarism in this act, be it with the family spaniel or his impoverished, abandoned mistress.

The second plot line, which I found slightly less interesting, was about the film's lead, Daniel Deronda, a presumed illigitimate boy who has been raised a country gentleman. One day while out boating he saves a Jewish singer from drowning herself, and sets out to discover his own true identity through finding her family. I don't know why, but I found myself itching through these scenes to get back to Gwendolyn and her pathetic plight of enslavement to her husband. A second viewing, once I knew the course of the characters, settled me a bit.

The acting is very stellar. There's not a weak link in the cast, although I have to say seeing Barbara Hershey seemed a little out of place in this Victorian paradox. The film makes numerous contrasts between good and evil, selfishness and humility, lies and deception. It's actually quite an achievement, and I was pleased at the amount of restraint showed by the filmmakers. The sexual tension between man and wife will go over most younger viewer's heads, something for which I'm grateful. It's rare we get a wonderful Victorian bodice ripper where the bodice stays on.