First we had Jan Austen's Persuasion with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones which is a very good shortened version of the book. I actually like Amanda Root's Anne Elliott a bit better, and the longer version has more of my favorite book moments, but a good Jane Austen at any length is a treasure!
Then we had Miss Austen Regrets...taken from many of Jane Austen's letters to her sister Cassandra and niece Fanny. The dramatization tries to establish the factors leading to her characterizations and story lines. The movie starts Olivia Williams who was Miss Fairfax in a PBS Emma and Hugh Bonneville from Lost In Austen and currently Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey.
Then we had the 2 hour opening episode of Downton Abbey. We so enjoyed being back to that great series! Although a bit more difficult to get through because of the warfare scenes, it was as absorbing as season 1. I was also so pleased that PBS US finally got smart and credited the American public for the ability to enjoy full length period drama. We in the USA got only 1/2 of season 1, as the PBS pundits thought the USA would be unable to follow or be interested in the concept of entailed inheritance and so sold the USA drastically trimmed versions. I was furious! But this season is the full length. Huzzah!!!!!
Roll on Sunday evening!
3 comments:
Oh that sounds like television heaven! I started watching the second series of Downton Abbey on DVD yesterday, and am enjoying it, although I do know what people mean about it not being quite as good as the first series, it being a bit rushed.
Two places I am definitely visiting this year. Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and Jane Austen's House Museum.
Wonderful post for favorite programs!
Ruth
We are getting rid of our cable - we watch very little tv. But, we will hopefully still have PBS - love the series and movies they share! Thanks for sharing with A Return to Loveliness,
God Bless,
Kathy
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