Irresistible, From Any Direction
January 10th 2008 18:33
From the north, from the south, from any old direction you please, this little BBC production has more appeal than you can shake a stick at – and a lot of it is to be found in the fine form of Richard Armitage.
Based on the Victorian novel North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, this four hour television miniseries of the same name (not strictly a film but close enough) is wholly engaging. Starring the majestic and striking Daniela Denby-Ashe (EastEnders, Absolutely Fabulous, My Family) as Margaret Hale, and Armitage (Robin Hood, Cold Feet, The Vicar of Dibley) as the ardent but iron-willed John Thornton, North and South (2004) tells a tale of class conflict, poverty and privilege, circumstance and culture, industrial dispute, loss, discovery, and simmering passion.
Margaret Hale, a young, middle-class southerner with a haughty sense of propriety, finds that her life is to change forever when her father, an Anglican clergyman, leaves the church after a clash of conscience, and takes his wife and daughter to Milton, a factory town in the north. At first disdainful of this new place and everyone in it – even the handsome and powerful mill master, John Thornton – Margaret soon finds her attitudes changing as she becomes involved with the people of the town, and embroiled in both sides of a workers’ rebellion.
Thornton, on the other hand, is quicker to recognise the change Margaret brings to his life, and, captivated by her regal beauty, frank intelligence, deep compassion and concern for justice, he asks her to marry him. Margaret’s harsh refusal wounds Thornton profoundly, but does nothing to diminish his feelings for her, and when tragedy strikes soon after, and secrets and misunderstandings abound, Margaret is forced to face the irrevocable truth of what lies between them.
Apart from many small sequential and circumstantial differences, this adaptation remains very true to the book, most particularly in tone and representation of the protagonists. Denby-Ashe gives a spirited portrayal of a distinctive and most remarkable heroine, while Armitage set hearts (and loins) aflame with his intensely persuasive performance. On the whole, North and South is a magnificently lavish production, with a strong cast, high-quality delivery, and stunning depiction of personal and social tensions still relevant today.
Note: Commendable supporting performances by Tim Piggot-Smith (V for Vendetta, Gangs of New York), Sinead Cusack (V for Vendetta, Hoffman), Jo Joyner (EastEnders, Dr Who), Pauline Quirke (Birds of a Feather, The Elephant Man) and Brendan Coyle.
Michaelie Clark
The delectable Richard Armitage - Image courtesy of photobucket.com
Thornton talks to Margaret... with his cravat off! Image courtesy of jrinla.com
Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margaret Hale - Image courtesy of jrinla.com
Thornton, on the other hand, is quicker to recognise the change Margaret brings to his life, and, captivated by her regal beauty, frank intelligence, deep compassion and concern for justice, he asks her to marry him. Margaret’s harsh refusal wounds Thornton profoundly, but does nothing to diminish his feelings for her, and when tragedy strikes soon after, and secrets and misunderstandings abound, Margaret is forced to face the irrevocable truth of what lies between them.
A brooding Thornton looks out across his mill - Image courtesy of jrinla.com
Apart from many small sequential and circumstantial differences, this adaptation remains very true to the book, most particularly in tone and representation of the protagonists. Denby-Ashe gives a spirited portrayal of a distinctive and most remarkable heroine, while Armitage set hearts (and loins) aflame with his intensely persuasive performance. On the whole, North and South is a magnificently lavish production, with a strong cast, high-quality delivery, and stunning depiction of personal and social tensions still relevant today.
Note: Commendable supporting performances by Tim Piggot-Smith (V for Vendetta, Gangs of New York), Sinead Cusack (V for Vendetta, Hoffman), Jo Joyner (EastEnders, Dr Who), Pauline Quirke (Birds of a Feather, The Elephant Man) and Brendan Coyle.
Michaelie Clark
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Comment by katyzzz
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But, seriously this sounds like a wonderful production, my sort of TV. Well done, Michaelie.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Thanks katyzzz, it really is a remarkable adaptation, check it out if you can.
Michaelie
Comment by AmyHuang
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Anonymous
I must admit that I passed up an opportunity to see this quite recently - perhaps prematurely and ill judged. You have now whet my appetite and I'm putting on my shoes to duck down (eider way) to the shop to get me one of them thar copies of the DVD!
I'm quite excited about seeing his loins - I mean hearing his lines!
Is that Saffy out of Ab Fab? If it is she looks tadly different, and yes I am qualified to make that comment as I've seen every single episode of Ab Fab 10 times or more.
You certainly have a wean may with gords my wirl! I'll be looking for more from you spooner........
Pamela
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
HAHAHAH You certainly have a mean way with words yourself!
Daniela Denby-Ashe played Saffy's daughter, I think - it was her break out role before she landed EastEnders.
Get onto this DVD quick-smart - you should have watched it when you had the chance you tilly sart.
Michaelie
Comment by Nina
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Thanks for swinging by, glad you're back.
Michaelie
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I'm sure I watched the mini-series they did of this a LONG time ago. Gaskell is certainly a writer of skill, I was actually looking at Ruth the other day.
Thanks for the great reveiw.
Ash
Comment by JoH
I'm off to Blockbuster now. Mr Armitage looks like he could soothe my poor tired eyes in no time......I promise I am not as shallow as I sound!
Comment by AmyHuang
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Ok. DVD it is!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I studied this book in school and I remember ploughing through it with my closest friend and moaning about its length. Now I'm more mature and can appreciate it a lot more
Tracy
Comment by Annie M
The mere thought of Mr. Thorton with his piercing stare and stiff collar makes me want to revert to a weak-kneed giggling school girl circa 1999. In fact I am currently having difficulty writing this comment as my mind keeps wandering to the many scenes in North & South where the mere 'hotness' of Mr. Thornton's character almost brought me to tears.
After much debate with my friends
Annie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yes, it's great to just lie on the couch and watch a production like this! So relaxing but still very engaging.
Gaskell is definitely one of a kind, I think. There are many authors I love from the 19th century, but I think she has another dimension to her writing - a broader social awareness or something.
Austen is very entertaining, but at the end of the day, her social observations are very limited to the class she was part of. I think Gaskell manages to get past that.
Thanks for the comment Ash, always lovely to see you!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I tell you what - he is very pleasing to look upon, but more than that, the whole attitude he takes in this role is absolutely... irresistible!
Lord but he is beautiful! If that's shallowness, I can live with it!
Mich
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
It's often like that in school! They pound it into you so much and assess you on it and it takes all the fun out of it! But then it sometimes takes a while to learn to appreciate stories written in another century too!
Thanks!
Mich
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
So glad you have a (fabulous, wonderful, amazing) friend with whom you can discuss this delectable man over and over and over until you both are ready to swoon with desire..!
Hmmm, getting slightly Mills and Boon, which is a bit much, even for me.
I know what you mean though when you say it almost brings tears to your eyes. Had that myself with several scenes... the handshake, the carriage leaving, the proposal... Jaysus but he was good!
As you say, would be even better with a 'pond' moment, but then, when he took off his cravat... it may have been even better. Those collars and cravats were so much a part of his character that when they were removed, you were already seemingly seeing the man beneath - very powerful, very, very hot.
Bloody hell, now I'm in a right state. Lol. Thanks my love!
Michaelie
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
He's a dashing fellow for sure - and he can act, even better.
Thanks!
Michaelie
Comment by Lilla
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Enviro Warrior
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A BBC period piece, mini-series ... *swoon* now you're talking my language, and with Richard A ...*giggle* dilectable.
Somehow I missed this one, but will renew my efforts to track it down, now that you have reminded me.
Thanks
Lilla ...
PS those final two Vicar of D's... were brilliant!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Do! It's so very good and you got it, with Mr Armitage, how could it be anything but? He was hot in The Vicar (loved that two part finale too, had a tear in my eye, can't believe it's over!) but he is something else in this, all intensity and brooding passion...
Let me know what you think if you get around to seeing it!
Thank YOU Lilla!
Michaelie