A fine adaption of the book, soon to be available on DVD again. While I found the later 1998 BBC version well played, I think that this version was more powerful in that the characters were really brought to life by the actors in this version.
Many of the key parts were played by actors who were destined later to become household names. Jane Seymour's portrayal of Bella Wilfer was particularly inspired as she made the selfish, shallow, spoiled yet beautiful young woman really live, repelling and attracting at the same time. Lesley Dunlop as Lizzie Hexham made me really wish for her eventual happiness.
Another great role was that of Bradley Headstone who was played by Warren Clarke, familiar to British viewers as the policeman Dalziel in "Dalziel and Pascoe". He put real menace into the part of the disturbed headmaster.
Even the minor roles were played by some of the finest actors of the time, Alfie Bass et al.
This version will be available again from April 2008.
