So who is watching Cranford?

18 years ago

This is posted mainly for the Brits on the forum, but is a heads-up for the rest of you. Cranford is a 5-part BBC dramatisation on the BBC, based on Elizabeth Gaskill's novel Cranford and two others (anyone know which two others?).

It's quite delightful - ranging from the poignant to the absurd. Based in around 1840, Cranford is a small town near Manchester. Most - all? - of the most important residents are women, who have very strong ideas about what is acceptable and right in the town.

I've been thoroughly enjoying it. It's not what I'd call deep and meaningful, but it's utterly charming. Last episode next week, to my disappointment.

So, anyone else been following it?

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Comments (14)

veer
18 years ago
Yes; I am, and really enjoying it, wonderful Sunday night viewing with a cast of some of our best actresses.
The book, which I reread last year (and would recommend it as a gentle read) was originally put together from a selection of short 'pieces' Mrs Gaskill had been writing for Dickens' magazine Household Words and the script writer has incorporated her extra stories to flesh-out the TV series.
It was filmed during the very wet summer in the pretty village of Laycock in Wiltshire when many bonnets got soaked by downpours.

At the link below click on to various interviews plus a clip of the trailer.
I had to click onto 'standalone player' at the top of the screen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cranford
lemonhead101
18 years ago
I wish I had been watching this, but I will have to wait for it to come to the US in some form or another. My mum in England has been loving it -- it sounds wonderful...
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sherwood38
18 years ago
Vee had mentioned some time ago that Judy Dench was doing this TV program. So I bought the book-but admit to only having read part of it. I keep setting it aside for something a bit more exciting!
I really look forward to the program making it over here.
England has a great number of wonderful actors/actresses and I always enjoy films & TV shows from there.

Pat
gooseberrygirl
18 years ago
How reliable this info is I am not sure, got it from a Jane Austen blog but it seems that Gillian Anderson (the truth is out there Scully ) will be hosting Masterpiece Theater classics beginning in January. The first programs will be adaptations of Jane Austen works then on to other programs and "Cranford" is one of these. Right up my alley!

gbg
sheriz6
18 years ago
Gbg, I hope you're right! I love Gillian Anderson and Jane Austen, so to have them even remotely connected and with "Cranford" tossed into the mix to boot -- wonderful! I'll have to watch the TV schedule carefully, I'd love to see this. I'm pretty sure I have a copy of Cranford somewhere in the TBR pile, too ...
jankin
18 years ago
I think this production is truly wonderful - i wish it had been available when I waS reading Cranford for my School Cert - ahem! years ago - when I found it terribly booooring and when I was a victim of the sadistic English teacher.
I highly recommend this tv adaptation.
ccrdmrbks
18 years ago
It's true! It's true! From the Masterpiece Theater Website:

A new Masterpiece Classic host is not the only change coming to the series in January. Viewers can look forward to a schedule that breaks the year into three "seasons," each with its own host, stunning graphics, and fresh take on the series' famous theme music. In winter and spring, Masterpiece Classic will feature signature period dramas. In summer, Masterpiece Mystery! will present the best British mysteries, and in fall, Masterpiece Contemporary will show dramas set in modern times. Anderson will present the ten programs in the first Masterpiece Classic season, including adaptations of all six of Austen's novels plus a new biopic; Cranford, a three-part miniseries starring Judi Dench; My Boy Jack, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Kim Cattrall; and a new adaptation of A Room with a View by Andrew Davies.

Hosts for Masterpiece Mystery! and Masterpiece Contemporary will be announced in 2008.
sherwood38
18 years ago
yippee-finally some TV to look forward to seeing!

Pat
jankin
18 years ago
I wouldn't save my chocolates and bottle of port for 'A Room With A View' (the new production) - just a warning
Jan
rosefolly
18 years ago
I guess I'll have to figure out when Masterpiece Theater is broadcast here. I use my TV mostly for watching DVDs, though I do turn on the food channel now and then while I am chopping vegetables. I was a faithful Gilmore Girls fan for seven years, and now and then I watch Gray's Anatomy, but other than that, I stopped watching television at a regularly scheduled time about seven or eight years ago. It does sound like I am missing some good stuff, though, so thanks to all for the information.

Rosefolly
sherwood38
18 years ago
Here is N. California we get it on Sunday night @ 9pm. We get Channel 6 out of Sacramento...not sure which station you would get in the Bay area-channel 9? Just ck PBS on line?

pat
carolyn_ky
18 years ago
Nine o'clock on Sunday night in Kentucky, too. I'm glad to hear about the new programming but sorry that Mystery has gone to just a few weeks. We used to get it regularly on Thursday nights at 9:00 in addition to MT.
rosefolly
18 years ago
We have channel 54 from San Jose and channel 9 from San Francisco. I'll check the schedule online, as suggested. Thanks, Pat, and Carolyn, too.

Rosefolly
ccrdmrbks
18 years ago
I, too, mourn the regular weekly Mystery on Thursday night.

So who is watching Cranford?

Comments (14)

veer

lemonhead101

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