THE WOMAN IN WHITE 1997
UK | BBC1 – Carlton
RUNNING TIME: 65 minutes | NUMBER OF EPISODES: 2 | AIRDATE: 1997
WRITER: David Pirie | NOVEL: Wilkie Collins | PRODUCER: Gareth Neame | DIRECTOR: Tim Fywell
Period mystery serial The Woman in White, written by Wilkie Collins in 1860, was one of the great spooky novels of the Victorian era. The story has been adapted many times for television, most recently with this big budget production. The story begins when two half-sisters, Marian and Laura, are introduced to ghost stories by their tutor Walter Hartright who scares them with tales of a sinister woman dressed in white. The girls are convinced that all is not as it seems though and think the ghostly figure may be linked to Sir Percival Glyde whom Laura has been betrothed by her less than nice Uncle.
Despite some simplification of the plot to fit this large novel into a two hour running time, the drama does have a great sense of atmosphere and the all star cast are clearly relishing the opportunity to “frock up”.
cast
TARA FITZGERALD as Marian
JAMES WILBY as Sir Percival Glyde
SIMON CALLOW as Count Fosco
IAN RICHARDSON as Mr Fairlie
ANDREW LINCOLN as Walter Hartright
JOHN STANDING as Mr Gilmore
ADIE ALLEN as Margaret Porcher
ANN BELL as Mrs Rideout
JUSTINE WADDELL as Laura
EXTRAS
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