The Mallens

The Mallens was a popular Granada Television adaptation of Catherine Cookson novels that ran for 13 episodes from 1979-1980.

Plot summary

Based on the novels The Mallen Streak,The Mallen Girl and the Mallen Litter. It is about a ruthless 19th century Northumberland Squire Thomas Mallen (played by John Hallam), who has a genetic white streak in his hair and fathers numerous illegitimate children, who inherit the trait and live tainted lives. One of them Donald Radlet (John Duttine), who stars in both The Mallen Streak and The Mallen Girls. Thomas Malen is then made bankrupt after his attempt to get his legitimate son Richard (David Rintoul) married to a girl from a wealthy family, fails due to his son losing his temper at a servant and killing a Baliff in the process causing Thomas Mallen to lose everything. This forces him to move to a small cottage along with his nieces Barbara (Pippa Guard) and Constance (Julia Chambers) and their Governess Anna Brigmore (Caroline Blakiston), who starts a relationship with the now bankrupt Squire. Some time after this Donald along with his half brother Matthew Radlet (Ian Saynor) comes to the cottage and meets his father. a short time after this he and his brother start developing a romance with both Barbara and Constance. Donald while courting Barbara is secretly trying to take Constance away from his brother who has now fallen in love with her. Donald eventually achieves this by the end of the Mallen Streak

In the Mallen Girls Matthew and Constance are secretly meeting and on one occasion sleep together. Constance says they should be married but Matthew refuses fearing his brother and that he is dying he tells her to say yes if Donald should make a marriage proposal but she refuses. Mrs Brigmore, realising what has happened persuades Constance to marry Donald in fear that Constance may now be pregnant. She marries Donald and later gives birth to a son named Michael. Meanwhile Thomas Mallen, still with Brigmore starts turning to drink and sleeping with other women. Eventually one night he mistakes his niece Barbara for someone else, rapes her and realising what he has done commits suicide. Sometime after this it is revealed that Barbara is pregnant with her uncle's child. Months later Barbara dies while giving birth to a daughter who is also named Barbara. Donald then comes to take the child, so that he can lay claim to her inheritance left to her by her half brother Richard who had managed to get bail and become very rich over seas. Mrs brigmore refuses to realising that Donald does not care for the child and also out of guilt for failing to stop Barbara being raped. Donald refuses to listien and says that the child is now his. Matthew says he will come along with Donald to pick up Barbara but on the way grabs Donald causing them both to fall to their deaths thus ending the Mallen Girls.

The next two parts differ considerably from the books mostly the ending

Taking place several years later the Mallen Secret begins with Barbara (Juliet Stevenson) unaware of her true parentage due to being deaf and shielded by her guardian Brigmore encouters Michael Radlet (Gerry Sundquist) his mother Constance (now played by June Ritchie) has made him believe he is Donald Radlet's son. He and Barbara soon meet and develop feelings for one another. Both Brigmore and Constance manage to put an end to this. Later on Michael becomes engaged to another woman and Barbara learns of her true parentage. Eventually in a jealous rage she attacks the girl Michael has become engaged to causing her to lose her leg this act drives Michael and Barbara apart ending the Mallen Secret

The Mallens is finally concluded in the Mallen Curse. Barbara Mallen has now moved on from Michael and married someone else just as Michael has done, but as they meet again their passion is re-ignited, as they start secretly seeing each other but eventually their actions lead to terrible consequences for everyone around them leading Brigmore to tell Barbara that she never wants to see her again. Barbara eventually drags Michael underwater to their deaths thus ending the Mallens story on a depressing note.

differences in the novel - the ending to the series is considerably different for one Barbara and Michael both go on to have their own children

External links

• The Mallens at the Internet Movie Database