Diarmuid Lawrence Movies
Screenwriter Andrew Davies' adapts Charles Dickens' tale of struggle and hardship in 1820s London. Returning to England after many years abroad, Arthur Clennam (Matthew Macfadyen) sees a sparkle in the eye of diminutive young seamstress Amy Dorrit (Claire Foy). But "Little Dorrit" works for his mother, and in digging for the truth about the mysterious girl he winds up at Marshalsea Debtors Prison. There, he discovers that the specter of debt follows the object of his affections like an oppressive shadow. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Courtenay, Matthew MacFadyen, (more)
The heir to London's Dupayne Museum has died in a suspicious fire and it's up to Commander Dalgliesh (Martin Shaw) to crack the case in this mystery based on the best-selling novel by author P.D. James. It seems that the infernal crime bears a striking resemblance to a notorious case from the Murder Room, and though Commander Dalgliesh soon begins to make headway in solving the difficult crime, the strain that the case is having on his relationship with Emma (Samantha Bond) is only exceeded by the endless hours he's been putting into the investigation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Shaw
- 2001
Not a religious program, the British mystery miniseries Messiah nonetheless contained Biblical elements, albeit sinister ones. London Detective Red Metcalfe (Ken Stott) and his crack team of investigators tackled the case of a serial killer who removed the victims' tongues and replaced them with silver spoons. It didn't take Metcalfe long to realize that the victims all had names that were strikingly similar to the names of Jesus' 12 disciples. Racing against time, Metcalfe attempted to prevent further killings, but the fanatical murderer always seemed to be a step or two ahead of him -- almost as if someone in Metcalfe's own circle of acquaintances was providing "inside information." Adapted from a novel by Boris Starling, the two-part Messiah was seen over the BBC's Northern Ireland service beginning May 26, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Stott, Jamie Draven, (more)
The British miniseries Heat of the Sun was set in 1933. After several instances of insubordination, Scotland Yard supervisor Albert Tyburn (Trevor Eve) was discplined by being shipped off to the Nairobi, Kenya. While grappling with the resentment of his fellow expatriates, Tyburn endeavored to investigate the kidnappings and murders of several young people from a local mission. The detective's arrival coincided not only with a major annual ceremony, but also with an influx of suspicious-looking Germans, headed by one Max van der Vuurst (Joss Ackland). Telecast in three two-hour installments from January 28 to February 11, 1998, Heat of the Sun was a presentation of Carlton Television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Byrne, Trevor Eve, (more)
In this made-for-TV adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, Emma Woodhouse (Kate Beckinsale) is a clever young woman from a wealthy family who fancies herself a matchmaker and tries to find a husband for her shy friend Harriet (Samantha Morton). However, Emma's skills in bringing romances together are not all she imagines them to be, which causes no small annoyance for Harriet. What's more, Emma's interest in the affairs of others nearly causes her to miss out on the love of her life. This adaptation of Emma was first shown in the U.S. on the A&E cable network; it followed both Douglas McGrath's acclaimed film version starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and Amy Heckerling's considerably updated variation on the story, Clueless. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Beckinsale, Mark Strong, (more)
- 1996
A cop goes into dangerous territory in this British made-for-television thriller. Colin Salmon stars as Detective Charlie Nolan, a cop who goes undercover to track down an underworld mob boss (Ion Caramitru) in Manchester. When he gets involved with the man's wife (Amanda Donohoe), he has to do everything he can to get out alive. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
The four-part BBC1 miniseries The Hanging Gale was set in 1846, the year of the Irish potato famine. As starvation stared them in the face, a group of farming families banded together to survive. Among these hardy souls were the Phelan Brothers (played by the real-life McGann brothers), who struggled to save their family farm despite the persecution of a cruel British land agent. Filmed on-location in Ireland, The Hanging Gale was initially telecast from May 14 to June 4, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul McGann, Joe McGann, (more)
- 1995
An Irish castle filled with eccentric characters, both upstairs and down provides the basis for this lively, loopy British comedy based on Henry Green's anti-novel set in 1941. The Castle Kinalty has become a haven for advocates of the traditional British class system. The aristocratic masters go about their business and try to ignore the nagging guilt that tells them they should return to England to fight in the war. The story (if it can be called a story) begins as Raunce is promoted to the position of head butler following the death of the former butler. The middle-age Raunce loves the power he suddenly has over the others and over the household accounts. Raunce is a little arrogant and very uptight and always courteously catering to the widowed mistress of the house and her randy daughter. Restrained Raunce finds himself targeted for love by the lithesome lusty young servant Edith who teaches him the advantages of unbridled passion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The two-part British miniseries Comics was written by Lynda La Plante, of Prime Suspect fame. In one of his first major TV roles, Tim Guinee stars as Johnny Lazar, a second-rate standup comedian. Having witnessed a gangland "hit," Johnny himself is targeted for extermination, whereupon he embarks upon a noir odyssey reminiscent of the Warren Beatty cult film Mickey One (1966). Comics was originally broadcast in England in 1993 over the London Weekend Television service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray's once-controversial novel about the ambitious and amoral country lass Becky Sharp, has been adapted for British television on a number of occasions. This version, telecast by the BBC in 1987, was the most ambitious to date, running a full 16 half-hour episodes. Eve Matheson starred as the bewitching Becky, who rose to prominence in British society during the Napoleonic wars, only to crash and burn as a result of her own machinations and her predilection for loving neither wisely nor well. The 1987 Vanity Fair was later broadcast in America courtesy of the A&E cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eve Matheson
