Cranford: The Collection
For those of us who revel in historical fiction, especially European, with an emphasis on Great Britain, there cannot be better product than that of the BBC. And one of their latest gems, beautifully cut and polished to a glowingt glare, is CRANFORD: THE COLLECTION, now out on DVD.
Based on the mid-19th Century novels of Elizabeth Gaskell, the creative team behind this mini-series explores life in a sleepy 1840s English town, away from major highways or even railroads, which were relative new at this time.
When originally aired in Britain and on PBS in 2007 (and re-shown in this past January), it proved to be so successful that a sequel was immediate put into place. Called RETURN TO CRANFORD, it is to air later in the month.
But for those unwilling to wait, the entire eight hours or so has been released to DVD on three disks. It is of immeasurable value to those of us who love great story-telling beautifully photographed (in the northwest of England), detailing a time long-passed, when life was shorter and quieter than today. But, as we all know, those bucolic-appearing villages, where one knew every neighbor, spell out much human dimension. Compared to today’s rapid life, they were certainly more dull: no theatre or libraries, just church and work and the occasional traveling magical show.
The entire storyline takes place in this (fictional) village of Cranford. The natural order of things is upset when a new, young, doctor comes to town and falls for one of the village maidens. This courtship is observed (mostly behind curtains) by the town, including our protagonists, the spinster-sisters, Matty (Judi Dench) and Deborah (Eileen Atkins), always addressed by a “Miss” before their names. They are befriended by a vast assortment of gracious ladies of the town, including those played by Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Barbara Flynn, Deborah Findlay, Celia Imrie and Francesca Annis. The male actors who standout are Alex Jennings, Nicholas Le Prevost, young Alex Etel, Jonathan Pryce and Greg Wise. Most of the actors are extremely well-known to discerning audiences on both continents and to watch great actors interplay is about as close to a heavenly experience as one can find.
As with most mini-series, the writing and directing and even producing is shared. Producer/writers Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin brought the Gaskell novels to BBC. Then Heidi Thomas wrote or co-wrote the seven episodes of the 2007/8 series and the final two episodes in the “Return to Cranford.” Directors Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson created the look and the effect of the actors.
As is true of so much of the BBC work, the attention to detail is extraordinary, from the houses to the lace to the coaches. It has an astonishing verisimilitude to it, making it all the easier to believe just how the approach of the railroad could be of such concern. Glorious film-making and worthy of one’s attention.