"Cranford" (2007) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Creators:

Sue Birtwistle
Susie Conklin

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

18 November 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | England | Doctor | Gossip | Small Town

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 12 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Miss Matty Jenkyns (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Imelda Staunton	...	Miss Pole (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Julia McKenzie	...	Mrs. Forrester / ... (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alex Etel	...	Harry Gregson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Tomkinson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Barbara Flynn	...	Mrs. Jamieson / ... (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jim Carter	...	Captain Brown (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Claudie Blakley	...	Martha (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Francesca Annis	...	Lady Ludlow (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Emma Fielding	...	Miss Galindo (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Simon Woods	...	Dr. Harrison (5 episodes, 2007)
Lisa Dillon	...	Mary Smith (5 episodes, 2007)
Rosy Byrne	...	Lizzie Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Kimberley Nixon	...	Sophy Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
John Bowe	...	Dr. Morgan (5 episodes, 2007)
Selina Griffiths	...	Caroline Tomkinson (5 episodes, 2007)
Philip Glenister	...	Mr. Carter (5 episodes, 2007)
Lesley Manville	...	Mrs. Rose (5 episodes, 2007)
Hester Odgers	...	Helen Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Julia Sawalha	...	Jessie Brown (5 episodes, 2007)
Alex Jennings	...	Reverend Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Adrian Scarborough	...	Mr. Johnson (5 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Buchan	...	Jem Hearne (4 episodes, 2007)
Debra Gillett	...	Mrs. Johnson (4 episodes, 2007)
Emma Lowndes	...	Bella Gregson (4 episodes, 2007)
Hannah Stokely	...	Bessie (4 episodes, 2007)
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Job Gregson (3 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Byrne	...	Malachi Gregson (3 episodes, 2007)
Joe McFadden	...	Jack Marshland / ... (3 episodes, 2007)
Greg Wise	...	Sir Charles Maulver (3 episodes, 2007)
Hannah Hobley	...	Bertha (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Eileen Atkins	...	Miss Deborah Jenkyns (2 episodes, 2007)
Haydon Downing	...	Walter Hutton (2 episodes, 2007)
Alistair Petrie	...	Major Gordon (2 episodes, 2007)
Michael Gambon	...	Mr. Holbrook / ... (2 episodes, 2007)
Adam Henderson Scott	...	Assistant Auctioneer (2 episodes, 2007)
Roger Ennals	...	Mulliner (2 episodes, 2007)
Patricia Leach	...	Gypsy Woman (2 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Westfield	...	Farmer Graves (2 episodes, 2007)
Finty Williams	...	Clara Smith (2 episodes, 2007)
Imogen Byron	...	Kate (2 episodes, 2007)
Philippa Burt	...	Villager (2 episodes, 2007)

Also Known As:

Cranford Chronicles (UK) (working title)
Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

60 min (5 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Judi Dench called the writing "inspired" and "extraordinary".

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2009) (TV)

Damn near perfect

"Cranford" is the type of drama, in writing (starts with a novel), acting and directing that the British do so well, a period piece that runs the viewer through the gamut of emotions -- frustration, anger, joy, relief, etc. -- in reaction to oh-so-subtle variations of human behavior, by illustrating the mores of the time, from quaint to maddening by modern standards on one hand, to the human generosity which defies them on the other.

As befit the greatest tales, there are several main characters with deftly interwoven stories here, so one must look elsewhere beyond these comments for knowledge of the characters and plot; but let me conclude by saying that "Cranford" has more HEART than any piece I've seen in quite some time. Shown as a "Masterpiece Classic" on America's PBS network, "Cranford" truly, truly, truly lived up to the Masterpiece moniker, with a capital M.