Sally Lockhart Mysteries - (Ruby in the Smoke & Shadow in the North) [DVD]

It's about time Phillip Pullman got some positive limelight... all the stupid fuss over the anti-religious elements of 'His Dark Materials' rather overshadows the fact that he is an excellent writer. The 'Sally Lockhart' books are a fascinating glimpse into a shady Victorian world and how damn difficult it was to be a woman 150 years ago. Sally Lockhart is a feisty and engaging heroine and, for once, Billy Piper is well cast in the lead role. She manages to convey the spirited independence of the main character while clearly showing us the restrictions placed on women at that time. I hope very much that the next one will be filmed as it is a corker of a story.
As for these two, I heartily recommend them - they are very good stories with excellent characters and locations.
P.S. Does anyone else think that JJ Feild looks rather like Jude Law?!?

Adapting books for the screen is always a hard thing to do. When it's adapted for the TV it can become worrying. But this set is actually enjoyable.
Billie Piper does a good job being Sally Lockhart, and a good supportive cast help to make this a good program.
People will always say the books are better....of course they are. But in terms of other screen efforts this is an exciting program that all the family will enjoy. Mine certainly did!

This two-DVD set features the opening two stories based on Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart novels. I should point out that I have not read any of the books in this series; this review is purely based on the DVD package. Both stories are feature length, running to approximately 90 minutes each. Disc one ("The Ruby in the Smoke") includes an interview with Philip Pullman. This is the sole bonus feature in the package, but both DVDs contain English subtitles if required.

`The Ruby in the Smoke' is set in England in 1874. Sally Lockhart (Billie Piper), a feisty young woman whose father has been killed in mysterious circumstances, now resides with her fusty Aunt Caroline. "What accomplishments do you have?" asks the spiteful elderly lady. Sally tells her that she has none save the ability to fire a pistol, speak Hindustani and to read an accounts ledger as easily as a newspaper. By the time she has removed herself from this stifling atmosphere, Sally is immersed in her first mystery. The catalyst for this upheaval is a cryptic note that she has received from Singapore concerning her father's untimely death. Much murderous mayhem and derring-do ensues when the eponymous ruby's existence becomes known.

Sally's business acumen comes to her rescue when she takes on the books at the lovelorn Frederick's (JJ Field) photography business in return for bed and board. He and capable cockney lad, Jim (Matt Smith), take on sidekick status as they are confronted by the vile and devious Mrs. Holland (Julie Walters in superb form) who will stop at nothing in order to secure the ruby for herself.

Matt narrates some small portions of the story via voice-over. Unfortunately, his `cor blimey' tones are a little grating here, and, thankfully, this device was not continued for the next story in the series, `The Shadow in the North'.

In this story, a weapon capable of widespread destruction has been invented. The villain of the piece is Axel Bellman (Jared Harris), a businessman who is not above using mass murder and blackmail to get what he wants. Sally has now gone into business as a financial consultant and is distressed to learn that one of her clients is close to financial ruin thanks to her advice to invest in a shipping company whose vessel has subsequently sunk in mysterious circumstances. The owner of this company? None other than Axel Bellmann. This tale also takes music hall acts and psychics into the mix as the faithful Jim and Frederick rejoin Sally in a new mystery.

The acting is uniformly excellent (notably from Julie Walters in the first story). Billie Piper grows into the lead role nicely. The first story calls for a more restrained and understated performance given her character's age and status. `The Shadow in the North' sees Sally blossom into a more determined and independent woman. This story is also a little lighter in tone than its predecessor; there's even room for a few jokes. I particularly enjoyed theatre manager, Bram Stoker (Owen Roe) reject the disappointed Jim's play script, "There's no future in vampire stories," Stoker informs him. In another scene, Sally visits the Patents Office to find out about Bellmann's business dealings. Here she encounters an awkward young clerk played to perfection by Nitin Ganatra. His mannerisms and facial expressions are hilarious and his discomfort is palpable when faced with the attractive Sally. His is just an incidental character, but I'm glad they included him. Both stories are highly visual with some stunning photography which captures the colourful opulence of the haves as well as the dingy squalor of the have-nots.

It would have been nice if some more bonus material could have been included such as cast and crew interviews or audio commentaries, but the Philip Pullman interview on the first disc is interesting as he talks about the process of writing his books and gives his thoughts on their translation to the small screen.

Both stories are quite involved, but utterly compelling, and with television of this quality repeated viewing is a pleasure.