Bleak House [DVD] [2005]

"Bleak House" was published in nineteen monthly episodes during 1852-53. The television dramatisation, in fifteen episodes, effectively replicates this. The story, which revolves around the long drawn out court case of Jarndyce versus Jarndyce, exposes the corruption and claustrophobic inertia of the Victorian legal system. Dickens's novel is a vast satire of lawyers and the deathly grip of class and status. He weaves together an epic tale with a cast, if not of thousands, then at least more extensive than other novelists would trust themselves to handle.

The television production has 45 principal characters and over 80 speaking parts. It is a mark of the quality of the original novel and of Andrew Davies's adaptation of the text that the complexity of the story grabs and holds your attention. There's satire, comedy, drama, pathos, romance, social commentary, a murder mystery, a few other mysteries, a whole world of characters and stories.

And the cast is outstanding. There's not a weak link to be seen. This is almost a who's who of the British acting profession, and everyone will have their own favourites. I'd single out several. Gillian Anderson gives a faultless performance as an English noblewoman. Denis Lawson is a wonderfully sympathetic John Jarndyce, the voice of decency. Charles Dance has such villainous presence. Johnny Vegas makes a wonderful Krook. Burn Gorman is Guppy, a decent, slightly sinister, young clerk desperate for respectability and acceptance. And Anna Maxwell Martin gives the central role of Esther such depth and conviction. But, my absolute favourite is the wonderful Phil Davis … "Shake me up, Judy".

The actual novel is presented by two narrators: Dickens has an impersonal narrator writing in the present tense and commenting ironically on corruption, greed, abuses of power, and the plethora of social ills he exposes and satirises in this work. He also has Esther's written account, presented in the past tense, a diary reflecting on her life with optimism and hope. Such a structure must have made the translation of a serialised novel doubly difficult. The translation works superbly.

Esther - wonderfully played - acts as the focal point, as the central character around whom the other tales revolve or intersect. She's also the caring heart of the novel - in the face of corruption, lies, obsequiousness, brutality, poverty, and abuse of power, she conveys genuine, unselfish love of humanity and honesty. The camera, meanwhile, gives us the impersonal view, peering into the bleak worlds of its characters, exposing their frailties.

This is brilliant television drama, filmed in a sort of noir style - shadowy, candle or gas lit, sinister yet optimistic. The serialisation - eight hours of it - works wonderfully. The DVD will offer insight into the making of the production and the demands made of cast and crew. This is television drama which will stand the test of time and surely become recognised as a triumphant production. Outstanding acting, outstanding script, outstanding direction, outstanding production, and a DVD you will treasure.

Anyway, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Its true to the novel and contains the usual array of Dickens' grotesques, complex plotting and social commentary - but this version is fast paced, beautifully acted and completely absorbing. Some of the characters get on your nerves (eg dripping wet Ada and wearying Lady Dedlock - although you'll fall in love with Gillian Anderson in the role despite wanting to give her a good slap and a double espresso!)but thats just a feature of the book. The characters are obviously of their time and act in ways frustrating to us now.

Its got some of the best villians I've seen for a long time (Charles Dance and Phil Davis both brilliant)and the central female character (Miss Emmerson? can't remember, must be going senile) is played superbly. She gives hope to many a plain girl as despite being disfigured by smallpox she still has the men falling over their feet to get her. Lots of lovely cameos as well and Johnny Vegas is brilliant as a fat, illiterate, alcoholic. Who'd have thought he could play illiterate.

On top of all that it looks fantastic and the settings, costumes etc fully satisfy all us period drama lovers.

Buy it, take the phone off the hook and settle down to 8 hours of wonderful TV.

The tension of the plot is very well maintained, and there is not one moment that I found boring. Indeed,I became so engrossed that at one point I found it impossible to stop watching, as I was interested in following the developments and all the twists and turns. The turning points in the plot are very well done, while not overly sentimental, and extracted some tears. These moments particularly linger in memory when the series is over.

Not to be missed, I'd say.