Tipping the Velvet (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Geoffrey Sax

Writers:

Andrew Davies (screenplay)
Sarah Waters (novel)

Release Date:

9 October 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Set in the 1890's, tells the lesbian love affair between male impersonator music hall star Kitty Butler and Nan Astley.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Closeted Homosexual | Greek Mythology | Lesbianism | Extramarital Affair

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Rachael Stirling	...	Nan Astley
Keeley Hawes	...	Kitty Butler
Anna Chancellor	...	Diana Lethaby
Jodhi May	...	Florence Banner
Hugh Bonneville	...	Ralph Banner
Johnny Vegas	...	Gully Sutherland
Alexei Sayle	...	Charles Frobisher
John Bowe	...	Walter Bliss
Sally Hawkins	...	Zena Blake
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louis Alderton	...	Baby Cyril
Nick Bartlett	...	Drunk Man
Diane Beck	...	Annie Price
Di Botcher	...	Woman with Cigar
Carl Chase	...	Corder
Edward Clayton	...	Rough Customer
Sarah Crowden	...	Woman with Pipe
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Freddy
Angela Curran	...	Mrs. Sykes
Heather Dickinson	...	Grace Milne
Monica Dolan	...	Alice Astley
Janet Fullerlove	...	Elsie
Susie Gossling Valerio	...	Singer
Sam Graham	...	Man at Mrs. Milne's
Milly Gregory	...	Mary
Janet Henfrey	...	Mrs. Jex
Richard Hope	...	Mr. Astley
Annie Hulley	...	Mrs. Astley
Alex Kelly	...	Gay Girl
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Tony Reeves
Peter Kelly	...	Davy Astley
Michael Kilgarriff	...	Music Hall Chairman
Daniel Mays	...	Jimmy Burns
Eleanor McCready	...	Tramp Lady
Jim McManus	...	Tricky Reeves
Richard Pettyfer
Paul Ready	...	Renter Alice
David Simeon	...	Middle-Aged Gent
William Sleigh	...	Barber
David Spinx	...	Rough Man
Bernice Stegers	...	Mrs. Denby
Sara Stockbridge	...	Dickie
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Mrs. Milne
Theresa Watson	...	Mrs. Best
David Webber	...	Bill

Runtime:

177 min (3 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) | UK:18 (original rating) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Whitstable, Kent, England, UK

Company:

Sally Head Productions

Trivia:

As Nan Astley explains to Florence Banner in the final episode, "Tipping the Velvet" was a Victorian euphemism for cunnilingus.

Quotes:

Kitty Butler: Like a mermaid.

Surprising

It is surprising that a production like this gets made these days, especially for television. Considering the strong sexual themes and explicit lovemaking scenes, not to mention lesbianism, this has been given superb treatment and direction.

The sets and costumes are flawless, the direction is stylish and the characters are likeable. There is a fair amount of humor but it has surprisingly dark interludes. The protagonist is really a tragic figure, but not devoid of happiness. Also, this production avoids the mistake most films/shows make when dealing with homosexuality/lesbianism. The characters are very human. It seems that to allow people to be comfortable with watching gays and lesbians on TV and movies most shows fill it full of cliches and make the characters obsessed with being gay. Not so with this. In Tipping the Velvet, the protagonist is hardly aware of what being lesbian means!

The BBC have made some wonderful productions in the past, and this adventurous period piece only confirms their standard of excellence on all fronts.