Lady Chatterley is a 1993 BBC television serial starring Sean Bean and Joely Richardson. It is an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's 1928 novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, first broadcast on BBC1 in four 55-minute episodes between 6 and 27 June 1993. A young woman's husband returns wounded after the First World War. Facing a life with a husband now incapable of sexual activity she begins an affair with the groundskeeper. The film reflects Lawrence's focus not only on casting away sexual taboos, but also the examination of the British class system.
| Lady Chatterley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Based on | Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence |
| Written by | Ken Russell Michael Haggiag |
| Directed by | Ken Russell |
| Starring | Joely Richardson Sean Bean James Wilby Hetty Baynes Shirley Anne Field |
| Composer | Jean-Claude Petit |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Tom Donald Robert Haggiag Barry Hanson Johan Eliasch |
| Producer | Michael Haggiag |
| Cinematography | Robin Vidgeon |
| Editors | Mick Audsley Peter Davies Alan Mackay Xavier Russell |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Production company | London Film Productions in association with Global Arts for BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC1 |
| Release | 6 June – 27 June 1993 |
Cast edit
- Joely Richardson - Lady Chatterley[1]
- Sean Bean - Mellors
- James Wilby - Sir Clifford Chatterley
- Shirley Anne Field - Mrs Bolton
- Hetty Baynes - Hilda
- Ken Russell - Sir Michael Reid, Lady Chatterley's father[2][3]
Reception edit
The show had an audience of over 12 million, for the BBC.[4]
Donald Liebenson,[5] a Chicago-based film critic said "Those who believe British miniseries to be too proper and corseted may want to make an exception for Ken Russell's 1992, four-hour BBC adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's scandalous novel...The production is impeccably mounted--no pun intended--and the performances (particularly by the daring Ms. Richardson) impassioned."[6]
In September 1994, Adrian Martin said "Russell brings not a skerrick of art or craft to this project."[7]
Dennis Lim of The New York Times called it "a sudsy...mini-series".[8]
The Independent said "What actually happened was perilously close to cartoon."[9]
In 2005, the BBC reported that the show's dramatisation "toned down" the book's "more explicit scenes".[10]
Distribution edit
References edit
- ^ "Lady Chatterley Part 1 (1993)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Riley, John A. "Ken Russell". Senses of Cinema. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Ken Russell on Television". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Ken Russell: The film-maker laid bare". The Independent. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
The Russell Lady Chatterley, in fact, gave him a too-brief respite from deepening obscurity. Sean Bean and Joely Richardson, as gamekeeper and mistress, drew 12 million-plus viewers to the four-part serial.
- ^ "Donald Liebenson: biography & movie reviews". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Lady Chatterley Quotes". Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Martin, Adrian. "Lady Chatterley". filmcritic.com.au. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Lim, Dennis (17 June 2007). "The New Lady Chatterley: Sober, Sensual, French". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "TELEVISION: Cheers (C4) and Lady Chatterley (BBC1)". The Independent. 13 June 1993. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "10 November 1960: Lady Chatterley's Lover sold out". ON THIS DAY. BBC. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Lady Chatterley". National Library, Singapore. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
London Films/Global Arts production for BBC ; screenplay by Michael Haggiag and Ken Russell ; produced by Michael Haggiag ; directed by Ken Russell.
- ^ "Lady Chatterley - Press and Festivals". Kino International (company). Retrieved 4 March 2022.
