Cranford (2007 TV series)

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Cranford

Cranford Title Card
Genre Drama
Created by Elizabeth Gaskell
Heidi Thomas
Sue Birtwistle
Susie Conklin
Directed by Simon Curtis
Steve Hudson
Starring see cast
Composer(s) Carl Davis
Country of origin United Kingdom
Language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 5
Production
Executive
producer(s)		 Kate Harwood
Rebecca Eaton
Producer(s) Sue Birtwistle
Co-producer(s) Rupert Ryle-Hodges
Editor(s) Frances Parker
Cinematography Ben Smithard
Camera setup Panavision Genesis HD Camera
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel BBC
Picture format HDTV
Original run 18 November – 16 December 2007
Chronology
Related shows Cranford (1972)
External links
Official website
Production website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Cranford is a 2007 British television drama serial, adapted by the BBC from Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Cranford, novellas My Lady Ludlow and Mr Harrison's Confessions, and the article The Last Generation in England. All of these works were published between 1849 and 1858. The first episode aired on 18 November 2007 on BBC One.

Contents

[edit] Scenario

Cranford is set in a small rural Cheshire town of the same name in 1842 and 1843, which Gaskell based on the real town of Knutsford. The town is dominated by women, and is comfortably settled in its traditional way of life, but the railway is about to arrive, and offers to introduce modern ways and ideas to the town, to the alarm of some of its inhabitants.

The novel Cranford is principally concerned with the lives of a group of single and widowed middle class women, who place great store on propriety, and on maintaining an appearance of gentility, even those whose means are barely adequate for the task. The writers of the television series broadened the scope of the production by adding characters from the other works mentioned above. The principal male romantic lead is Doctor Harrison, who is taken from Mr Harrison's Confessions, as are the three women who vie for his affections, Mrs Rose, Sophy Hutton, and Caroline Tomkinson, and their relations. The young man brings his own modern ideas to Cranford, in the form of new treatments he has learned about at medical school in London. Sharp social contrasts are provided by the characters drawn from My Lady Ludlow: the aristocratic and reactionary Lady Ludlow, her progressive-minded steward Mr Carter (called Mr Horner in the book), and the young poacher's son Harry Gregson, whom Mr Carter teaches to read.

[edit] Production

  • Originally scheduled for filming in 2005 and to be shown over six episodes, the scheduled was delayed by budget cut backs until 2007 with a five episode format[1]
  • Although the book is set in Cheshire, this television adaptation began shooting in April 2007 in the Cotswolds in Wiltshire, and London[2]
  • The filming started in Lacock in May 2007[3]
  • Other locations included, Little Gaddesden, (Cranford Heath: May Day scenes) and West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe (Lady Ludlow's House). Interior shots of Lady Ludlow's house, including the black and white marble entrance hall and the long gallery, were shot at Syon Park, London
  • Studio filming occurred at Shepperton Studios
  • Scriptwriter Heidi Thomas gave a talk and described images from Cranford during 2007's Knutsford Literature Festival[4]
  • The series was advertised by teaser trailers on BBC 1 and 2 from late October 2007, with the phrase "Coming Soon", replaced by the date of the first episode about a week before its transmission, in keeping with other BBC series.
  • All promotions of the series by BBC One have been accompanied by an orchestral/operatic version of the song "Scandalous", originally by Mis-Teeq.
  • The original director was replaced after eight weeks, half the total shoot. According to Dame Eileen Atkins: "He didn't really understand why it was funny. I don't want to down this bloke, because he might turn out to be able to do wonderful, deeply left-wing, odd little films where nobody is a professional."[5]

[edit] Christmas Special

News of a second series started to circulate the internet during February 2008.[6] However, it was announced on March 31st that Cranford would return for a two-part Christmas Special in 2009, with most of the starring cast expected to reprise their roles. The special will be set in September 1844, a year after the town celebrated the wedding of Sophy and Dr Harrison.[7]

[edit] Cast & Crew

Judi Dench as Miss Matty Jenkins.
Judi Dench as Miss Matty Jenkins.

[edit] Cast

In alphabetical order:

Imelda Staunton and Julia Mackenzie as Miss Pole and Miss Forrester.
Imelda Staunton and Julia Mackenzie as Miss Pole and Miss Forrester.

[edit] Crew

  • Simon Curtis — Director
  • Sue Birtwistle — Producer
  • Rebecca Eaton — Executive Producer
  • Kate Harwood — Executive Producer
  • Rupert Ryle-Hodges — Co-Producer

[edit] Reception

The first episode was watched by 8 million viewers and an audience share of 29%, according to overnight figures, outperforming ITV1's usually dominant I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, which was watched by 7.2 million (26%).[8] The series as a whole averaged 7.76 million viewers[9] and received a largely positive critical reception.[10][11][12]

[edit] Awards

Cranford was nominated for four 2008 British Academy Television Awards. Dames Eileen Atkins and Judi Dench were nominated for Best Actress and the series was nominated for Programme of the Year and Drama Serial; Atkins won for Best Actress.

[edit] DVD release

The complete series was released on BBC DVD on 11 February 2008.

[edit] Episode guide

  1. June 1842: A handsome, and eligible, new doctor arrives in the village of Cranford, and saves the broken arm of Jem Hearne, the local carpenter, after a fall from a tree. Also new in town are Captain Brown and his two daughters, the youngest of whom dies in his absence — the other is accompanied behind the coffin by Miss Deborah Jenkins, local matriarch and the Browns' neighbour and friend. Miss Deborah and her sister, Miss Matty, who live together as spinsters, also take in a newcomer, Mary Smith, the daughter of a friend. Mr Carter, estate manager to local aristocrat Lady Ludlow, takes an interest in young Harry Gregson, the bright son of a poor local family, offering him both work and an education. Finally, when some valuable historic lace is swallowed by a cat, a novel new use is found for a Wellington boot.
  2. August 1842: Major Gordon returns to propose to Miss Brown one last time before leaving for India, but she refuses as she feels she cannot leave her father all alone. However, when it is revealed at Lady Ludlow's garden party that the railway will be passing close to Cranford after all, and that Captain Brown will now be away for long periods on railway business, his daughter regrets her decision. Also dismayed at the news is Miss Deborah Jenkins, who accuses Captain Brown of deceiving them. Miss Deborah complains of a terrible headache and, moments later, collapses in her bedroom, dying later that night. Meanwhile Dr Harrison's romance with Sophy Hutton blossoms, only to be stopped in its tracks when he cannot save her brother from the croup.
  3. November 1842: Christmas is celebrated in Cranford and Dr Harrison's friend Dr. Marshland comes to visit, bringing some interesting stories about the good doctor. Marshland returns around St Valentines Day, where he causes mischief for Dr Harrison when he sends a valentines proposal to Miss Tomkinson, a young spinster who is in love with the doctor. However, Dr Harrison's romance with Sophy Hutton reignites. Harry Gregson's father finds himself in gaol until Lady Ludlow, prompted by Mr Carter's pleas and after seeing for herself the shocking poverty in which the Gregson family live, uses her influence to have the charges dropped. Mr Holbrook moves to propose to Miss Matty, and to contract the marriage they had been forced to give up in their youth due to family scandal involving Matty's brother, but before they can do so he contracts pneumonia on a journey back from Paris and dies. Although never married, Miss Matty indicates that she now considers herself a widow.
Alex Jennings and Kimberley Nixon as Reverend Hutton and his daughter Sophy Hutton.
Alex Jennings and Kimberley Nixon as Reverend Hutton and his daughter Sophy Hutton.
  1. April 1843: Miss Matty receives bad news on her investments, but determines not to tell her friends about her financial distress. The railway approaches ever nearer to Lady Ludlow's land and, though she sabotages Mr Carter's attempts to educate Harry Gregson, she has no choice but to sell to the railway against her will in order to fund a new house in Italy for her sick son Septimus — this will allow the railway to reach all the way to Cranford. Dr Harrison asks the Revd Hutton for permission to court his daughter. However, the town gossips continue to encourage Miss Tomkinson, and now Mrs Rose, in their erroneous impressions that Dr Harrison intends to marry them. When May Day arrives, Miss Tomkinson's sister accidentally reveals this to Revd Hutton and, upon finding of Mrs Rose's impression of intended matrimony and confronting Dr Harrison (who is nonplussed at to how he gave either such an impression), he brings Dr Harrison's courtship of Sophy to an abrupt halt.
  2. May 1843: Mr Carter discovers that Lady Ludlow has mortgaged the Hanbury estate to meet her son's financial demands, even though she may not have the resources to keep up the repayments. Elsewhere, Miss Matty's financial woes are eased when her friends discreetly step in to help, without her knowledge. A long-term solution comes from a suggestion of Captain Brown's that she set up a shop in her home (something not all her friends approve of). Despite Dr. Harrison's protestations of innocence, Dr. Morgan advises that he move on, as patients will no longer see him. Mary Smith helps by confronting Dr. Marshland about his mischief with the valentine's letters, and they begin to sort out the misunderstandings that have led to Dr. Harrison's predicament. Harrison and Sophy are reconciled when he saves her from a potentially fatal attack of typhoid. An accident at the site of the railway injures both Captain Brown and Mr Carter, the latter fatally. Lady Ludlow makes her peace with Mr Carter before his death. In his will he leaves his estate of £20,000 to Harry Gregson. £1,000 is to be used to pay for Harry to be educated as a gentleman at Shrewsbury School, and the remainder is to be used redeem the mortgage on Lady Ludlow's estate, but eventually to revert to Harry with interest. Major Gordon returns from India to propose again to Jessie Brown, and bring with him Miss Matty's long-missing brother, Peter Jenkyns. The series ends with the wedding of Sophy and Dr. Harrison.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dench drama scrapped in BBC cutbacks. Times Online (2005-10-02). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  2. ^ 'Cranford Chronicles' cast announced. Digital Spy (2007-04-20). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  3. ^ Cranford Chronicles. DJD Chronology (2007-06-17). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  4. ^ Premiere attraction. Cranford Chronicles (2007-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  5. ^ The fine Dame Eileen Atkins, The Sunday Times, January 6, 2008 url = http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article3122731.ece
  6. ^ Lacock a hive of filming activity. This is Wiltshire (2008-02-16). Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  7. ^ Cranford back for two-part special. Media Guardian (2008-03-31). Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  8. ^ Strong start for BBC's 'Cranford'. Digital Spy (2007-11-20). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  9. ^ Exact figure: 7.762, calculated from BARB figures for week ending 18 November 2007 and all subsequent weeks until 16 December 2007; see: here
  10. ^ The weekend's TV. The Guardian (2007-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  11. ^ Weekend TV. Times Online (2007-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  12. ^ Last night on television. The Daily Telegraph (2007-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-01-02.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Works by Elizabeth Gaskell
Novels:
Mary Barton (1848) • Cranford (1851–3) • Ruth (1853) • North and South (1854–5) • Sylvia's Lovers (1863) • Wives and Daughters (1865)
Short story collections:
The Moorland Cottage (1850) • The Old Nurse's Story (1852) • Lizzie Leigh (1855) • My Lady Ludlow (1859) • Round the Sofa (1859) • Lois the Witch (1861) • A Dark Night's Work (1863)
Short stories (partial):
"Christmas Storms and Sunshine" (1848) • "Mr. Harrison's Confessions" (1851) • "The Squire's Story" (1853) • "Half a Life-time Ago" (1855) • "An Accursed Race" (1855) • "The Manchester Marriage" (1858) • "The Half-brothers" (1859) • "The Grey Woman" (1861) • "Cousin Phillis" (1864)
Non-fiction: