"He Knew He Was Right" (2004)TV mini-series

Director:

Tom Vaughan

Writers:

Andrew Davies (screenplay)
Anthony Trollope (novel)

Release Date:

18 April 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Sister Sister Relationship | Parish | London | Broken Engagement

Cast

Oliver Dimsdale	...	Louis Trevelyan
Laura Fraser	...	Emily Trevelyan
Anna Massey	...	Miss Stanbury
Bill Nighy	...	Colonel Osborne
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Sir Marmaduke Rowley
Christina Cole	...	Nora Rowley
Geraldine James	...	Lady Rowley
Jane Lapotaire	...	Lady Milborough
Raymond Coulthard	...	Mr. Glascock
Maggie Ollerenshaw	...	Martha
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Hugh Stanbury
Caroline Martin	...	Dorothy Stanbury
Amy Marston	...	Priscilla Stanbury
Joanna David	...	Mrs. Stanbury
Barbara Flynn	...	Mrs. French

Runtime:

240 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Gran Sasso, Abruzzo, Italy

Company:

BBC Wales

Absolutely dreadful!

Chopped up Trollope is worse than no Trollope at all in my view. There is barely enough exposition for a complex set of characters but there are plenty of climaxes and assorted running gags which are hard to get unless you've read the book. It's basically is a series of punch-lines with no lead-ins.

This isn't even directed on decent soap opera level, which might have satisfied the time constraints. Why oh why must so many of the characters mug as they address the camera. With the exception of Anna Massey, the acting is dreadful, particularly the leading men, who look like they long to be in a rock opera or at least an early Disney Opus. A spoonful of medicine isn't enough for this travesty, I'm afraid.

As usual for Masterpiece Theater, the settings are lovely & the music is very loud.