Cranford a BBC Drama on Masterpiece Theatre
Simple English Village Program Nominated for Golden Globes
Dec 13, 2008
Cranford is a Masterpiece Theater Drama made for television by BBC. The portrait of a gentle English village in the 1840's airs on PBS. Cranford stars Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins, Imelda Staunton. Cranford has been nominated for three Golden Globes Awards.
Goldenn Globe Nominations
- Best Mini-Series for Motion Picture Made for Television
- Dame Judi Dench for Best Performance by an Actress
- Dame Eileen Atkins forBest Actress in a Supporting Role.
Cranford a Portrait of 1840's English Village
Cranford is a close knit rural English town in 1842. Matty Jankyns (Dame Judi Dench) and her sister Deborah (Dame Eileen Atkins) are spinsters living the simple life in the village. Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton) and the Jenkyns enjoy sweet pleasures. The Jenkyns are the daughters of the rector, are left with very little money. The English villagers are a tight knit group that gossips about every little change in their town.
The program includes some sly bits of gentle humor, especially by the severe Dame Eileen Atkins, such as when she expressed that men in the house were such a bother. Deborah is the authority figure who seems to be the head of the Jankyns household, while Matty is slightly naive and girlish. The Jankyns sisters live a simple, gentle life as they entertain visitors to their cozy house.
A handsome young doctor comes into town, setting the villagers abuzz with the news of change. Dr. Frank Harrison (Simon Woods) is a highly qualified doctor from London who sets the ladies hearts a-flutter.
At a garden party, a mysterious acquaintance from Mattie’s past appears hinting at a past romance and leaving the spinster shaken.
During that some garden party, startling news of a new railway line that is planned to be built going through the sleeping ton, threatening to change everything. The Industrial Revolution threatens to encroach on peaceful village life.
Cranford is a heartwarming series, with some lovely pieces of gentle humor that may make the viewer long for a simpler time and place.
Cast of Cranford
- Dame Judi Dench as Matty Jenkyns
- Dame Eileen Atkins as Deborah Jenkyns
- Imelda Staunton as Miss Pole
- Francesca Annis as Lady Ludlow
- Greg Wise as Sir Charles Maulver
- Simon Woods as Dr. Frank Harrison
- John Bow as Dr. Morgan
- Alex Etel as Harry Gregson
- Julia McKenzie as Mrs. Forrester
- Simon Curtis – Director
- Sue Birtwistle – Producer
- Heidi Thomas - Writer
The BBC Drama is a three part series is adapted from classic novels by Elizabeth Gaskells about small town life, gossip, secrets and romance.
