Our Mutual Friend (1976 TV serial)
Our Mutual Friend is a 1976 British television serial adapted from Charles Dickens' 1865 novel Our Mutual Friend.[1][2] The series was made by the BBC and ran during 1976 for a total of seven episodes. It was directed by Peter Hammond.
The adaptation was by Julia Jones and Donald Churchill, who had written the ITV sitcom Moody and Pegg (1974-75).[3] Their version excludes some minor characters in order to convey the action within the limitations of a seven-episode structure, but was praised by British reviewers for faithfully reproducing the mood and atmosphere of the original novel.[2]
Cast and characters
| Actor/Actress | Role |
|---|---|
| John McEnery | John Rokesmith |
| Jane Seymour | Miss Bella Wilfer |
| Nicholas Jones | Eugene Wrayburn |
| John Collin | 'Rogue' Riderhood |
| Leo McKern | Nicodemus Boffin |
| Lesley Dunlop | Lizzie Hexam |
| Andrew Ray | Mortimer Lightwood |
| Kathleen Harrison | Mrs. Henrietta Boffin |
| Ray Mort | Reginald Wilfer |
| Polly James | Jenny Wren |
| Warren Clarke | Bradley Headstone |
| David Troughton | Sloppy |
| Patricia Lawrence | Mrs. Wilfer |
| Edmond Bennett | Mr. Dolls |
| Richard Stilgoe | Mr. Boots |
| John Savident | Mr Podsnap |
| Jack Wild | Charley Hexam |
| Alfie Bass | Silas Wegg |
| Ronald Lacey | Mr Venus |
Theme music
The theme music was composed by Carl Davis.[4]
Critical reception
The stage-style filming of the serial was criticised, but a number of performances were singled out for praise, including that of Polly James as Jenny Wren.[5]
References
- Radio Times, 26 February 1976
- "BFI Screenonline: Our Mutual Friend (1976)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- Coveney, Michael (29 October 2015). "Julia Jones obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ""Our Mutual Friend" Reviews & Ratings - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- Sean Grass (15 May 2017). Charles Dickens's Our Mutual Friend: A Publishing History. Taylor & Francis. pp. 152–. ISBN 978-1-317-16822-5.