n JANE EYRE - Franco Zeffirelli's no-expense-spared movie version of Charlotte Bronte's classic starring Charlotte (no relation) Gainsbourg and William Hurt (with a terrible English accent). Women will love it and blokes will go along to see Elle Macpherson (who plays Blanche and looks drop-dead gorgeous). It could have been worse, of course. They could have given Richard Gere the part of Rochester. If you miss the film, you can always catch up with the BBC adaptation currently in production.
Movie released later this month
n THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL - A three-part adaptation for BBC1 of Anne Bronte's little-known (ie obscure) novel about women and marriage in nineteenth-century England. Tara Fitzgerald stars as Helen Graham, a beautiful and mysterious young woman who excites her neighbours' curiosity when she takes up residence in a remote country house with only her servant and son for company. Also starring Rupert Graves and Toby Stephens.
TV series starts in November
n JUDE - Michael Winterbottom's thoroughly depressing (dead children alert) adaptation of one of Thomas Hardy's more obscure (gettit?) novels was partly filmed in Edinburgh. It's beautifully shot with wonderful attention to period detail but there's no chemistry between stars Christopher Shallow Grave Eccleston and Kate Winslet. Mind you, June Whitfield's great as Jude's ageing mother. And watch carefully for the passing shot of an Edinburgh parking meter in nineteenth-century Christminster.
Movie released next month
n EMMA - Enter Gwyneth Paltrow as this year's hot new property. Just a shame that the movie's a stinker. Emma spends her days trying (and usually failing) to match up her pals with suitable young men. Then along comes Mr Knightley (Jeremy Northam) to sweep her off her feet. High Scots actor factor with Alan Cummings in creep mode as the unxious vicar and Ewan McGregor as the dashing Frank Churchill.
Movie released later this week
n EMMA - Same story different medium. Better script (probably) by Andrew Davies (who adapted Pride and Prejudice for BBC last year). This is the first of a handful of period-piece literary adaptations in the pipeline from ITV. Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong star and word is there will be more sexual overtones to the story.
Television series starts in December
n THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY - Starring Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich (great actor but, boy, does he need a good film right now) this movie adaptation of Henry James's novel is the tale of an American heiress who takes up with a cultured gentleman in Tuscany only to discover that he's a tad too cold for her hot blood. Directed by Jane ``Mrs Piano'' Campion.
Movie released early next year
n MOLL FLANDERS - Andrew Davies (again) adapted Daniel Defoe's bawdy romp about a flaming red-haired beauty of common stock who embarks upon a series of marriages in a bid to become a woman of substance. Plenty of rude bits. Lashings of cleavage. On the downside it stars Alex Kingston (the gaffer in The Knock) who's not exactly your classic hunk.
Television series starts in December
n POLDARK - Based on the Cornish tin-mining dynasty novels of Winston Graham, the original BBC series from the seventies was compulsive viewing for millions. Difficult to know if this one-off sequel (set 10 years later) will meet with the same success. If it does then they'll make a series. If it doesn't then you'll just have to wait until they show the old ones again on UK Gold. John Bowe and Mel Martin co-star.
Television movie shown later this month
n HEATHCLIFF - Sorry, but this sounds utterly appalling. Sir Cliff Richard, fresh from his busking success at Wimbledon, stars in a stage musical adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Sir Cliff Richard is 87.
Theatre production starts next month
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