The Moonstone (BBC One 1996, Keeley Hawes, Greg Wise)

Greg Wise (Sense and Sensibility) and Keeley Hawes (Karaoke) star in this sumptuous adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ classic mystery, the first detective novel ever written. The Moonstone, a sacred Hindu diamond was stolen from the head of the Moon God, in its shrine by John Herncastle in 1799. The stone is said to be cursed if it is removed from the shrine. In 1848, a man named Franklin Blake announces to Rachel that the Moonstone has been bequeathed to her by Herncastle. Blake gives her the jewel on her birthday and offers to mount the jewel for her, in order that she might wear it. Inevitably, the jewel is found missing the next morning and Rachel believes Blake stole it. Determined to prove his innocence, Blake leaves in order to pursue the real truth behind the theft.

cast
Keeley Hawes as Rachel Verinder
Greg Wise as Franklin Blake
Terrence Hardiman as Colonel Sir John Herncastle
Mellan Mitchell as Cut-throat Indian
Peter Vaughan as Gabriel Betteredge
Patricia Hodge as Lady Julia Verinder
Rachel Lumberg as Penelope
Nicholas Lane as Samuel
Surinder Duhra as Indian
Lesley Sharp as Rosanna Spearman
Kacey Ainsworth as Drusilla Clack
Scott Handy as Godfrey Ablewhite
Paul Brooke as Dr. Candy
Anton Lesser as Ezra Jennings
Antony Sher as Sergeant Cuff
Roger Walker as Constable Seegrave
Janet Henfrey as Mrs. Yolland
Elizabeth Berrington as Limping Lucy
Bobby Bernard as Septimus Luker
Peter Jeffrey as Mr. Bruff
Anthony Cumber as Gooseberry
Carl Forgione as Spy
Andy Devine as Landlord

crew
Robert Bierman as Director
Frances Parker as Editor
Chris Parr as Producer
Rick Wentworth as Music
Kevin Elyot as Writer
Wilkie Collins as Novel

UK | BBC One | 128 minutes | 1996