Top 3 forgotten period dramas made more than two decades ago...
Lost to the midst of time, these three period dramas have been forgotten, and in my opinion should be revived for their charm and contrast to present day. Here is the countdown of a select top three.
Dear Readers,
I present to you my top three period dramas that were made more than two decades ago and are due for more attention and publicity. Starting with a biopic period drama on this list.
Full reviews of the three mentioned forthcoming at a later date.
Number 3: Impromptu Starring Hugh Grant, Judy Davis and Emma Thompson.
The premise of this film is simple: it follows the life of Polish romantic composer, Fredrick Chopin (Hugh Grant) when he met the female French writer George Sand (Judy Davis). If you are new to old films, this one might be a good place to start as there are some recognisable actors in it and the quality overall is not too bad. Set during the time of Chopin’s life when he was friends with Franz Liszt (Julian Sands), who was a Hungarian romantic composer and Chopin’s contemporary, it follows his affair with George Sand and friendship with Liszt at the prime of his fame in France.
A key feature of this is the number and quality of the piano scenes which were a pleasant surprise as oftentimes this is just mimed. My favourite being when Chopin plays the Minute Waltz and he asks George Sand to speak for one minute only using the Minute Waltz as a timer! In reality, it won’t be possible as for those who know the Minute Waltz’s duration is longer than a minute!
Sand’s portrayal of Liszt is one of the most memorable things of this film. Quite amusingly (also aptly for those who know) he has the line ‘I am God’ in an amateur play that they put on. Liszt was known for being a bit of a ‘rockstar’ at the pianoforte and Sands indicates this well.
Impromptu has plenty to offer the viewer, from the music mostly of Chopin and Liszt, this dramatisation of the famous composer’s life puts a new spin on what people would imagine the lives of Chopin and Liszt would be. It is worth the watching for the music alone! Though, for those looking for something more, it is seeped in affairs, witty dialogue, and the occasional cross dressing.
Number 2: Berkeley Square Starring Clare Wilkie, Tabitha Wady and Victoria Smurfit.
Following the lives of three Edwardian Nannies, Berkeley Square is a soap opera like TV series made up of ten episodes. The first Nanny that the audience encounters is the strait-laced Nanny Wickham (Clare Wilkie) who is Nanny to the St John Children, Harriet (Emily Canfor-Dumas) and Tom (Lawrence Owen).
Then we get introduced to Lydia Weston (Tabitha Wady) who is Nanny Collin’s (Rosemary Leach) assistant nurse maid in the Lamson-Scribener household. She comes from a farm on Lord George’s (Rupert Frazer) estate, is very new to the job, and there are many amusing scenes where she is delighting in her new life in London seeming like an innocent fish out of water!
To complete the three Nannies, Hannah Randall (Victoria Smurfit), becomes the Nanny to Bertie Hutchinson (Adam Hayes). Hannah has a very checkered history and this implodes as she makes a series of bad choices. Her story is perhaps one of the more difficult ones to watch as you know and she knows that she’s making some really bad decisions which lead to an unfavourable outcome.
It can also be viewed as three separate stories stitched into one that are loosely intertwined. Each of the Nannies have different stories that have little collision with the other so it may be hard to keep track on who’s who. No period drama is complete without some drama from above stairs including an affair, a baby swapped without the family knowing, and a young nobleman who can’t keep his hands off the maid servants.
A very memorable part of the series is when all three of the Nannies and their young charges enjoy a day out in the countryside. The idillic side of Edwardian life is in full force here as they go fishing and explore the vast woods.
Though the other less pleasing side of Edwardian life is also presented, notably in the character of Mrs Bronowsky (Etela Pardo) who lives in the east end of London and provides Hannah with a home when she first arrives in London. Her part of the story is particularly poignant and there is a clear injustice towards her.
Summed up, this series has a hint of romance, scandal and themes of injustice. It is packed with the manners of the time period when it was the peak time to be a Nanny. So, great to brush up on the right behaviour!
Number 1: The Duchess of Duke Street Starring Gemma Jones and Christopher Cazenove.
One ambitious woman, Louisa Leyton, who becomes Louisa Trotter (Gemma Jones), works her way up to the top. At first she is a lowly kitchen assistant to a French chef, Monsieur Alex (George Pravda) in the household of Lord Henry Norton (Bryan Colman). Then after a successful meal for the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VII (Roger Hammond), she becomes a sought after chef in her own right. Starting in the latter part of the Victorian age, it follows through the Edwardians, World War I and the early roaring twenties over two series.
The main part of the story is her acquiring and managing The Bentinck Hotel - which she proclaims as being the best in London on the account of the fine food she serves.
There are 31 one hour long episodes with individual stories of the guests that stay at The Bentinck. It doesn’t really matter about the order with which these episodes are watched, though episodes featuring the regulars (pictured as The Residents of the Bentinck Hotel) should be watched in order.
An episode that is highly amusing is the one where they go to the Isle of Wright, and madness ensues between Louisa and the ladies of the Yacht Club next door. It gives a great interpretation of class and I find Louisa’s intolerant attitude toward people who are snobbish towards herself quite original to the modern woman.
I would call this a hidden gem as it has many entertaining stories about the guests and the regular characters. It features a young Gemma Jones (Louisa Trotter neè Leyton) who you may know from Bridget Jone’s diary as Pamela Jones. Despite of it’s age, much of the themes presented remains true today. A reworking of the rags to riches story, The Duchess of Duke Street is well worth the watching and a true story to boot! It is based on the life of Rosa Lewis - ‘The Duchess of Jeremyn Street’. Be prepared for scandal, romance, and one young woman’s strive for success in the anti-feminist Edwardian era. Coupled with the culinary delights of the late Victorian to early Edwardian period.
Ratings and Recommendations
Best duration - Impromptu
Best storyline - Impromptu
Best period drama experience - The Duchess of Duke Street
Best Characterisation - A tie between The Duchess of Duke Street and Berkeley Square
Best Romantic Storyline - Berkeley Square
Best Scandalous Affairs - The Duchess of Duke Street
Best Music - Impromptu (Obviously!) - The Duchess of Duke Street comes as a close second.
Best plot twists - The Duchess of Duke Street
Which of the three have you watched? Which have you never heard of? Which are you planning to watch?
Until next time, toodle loo!
Yours, ect.
