tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36746395.post-39645070163170805802006-12-20T04:24:00.000-08:002006-12-24T10:08:48.454-08:00There are scant pickings in literary costume drama this year but below is a list of what is on that will help keep you sane admidst too much drink, too much family and too much food. I have not listed <span style="font-style:italic;">Christmas Carol</span> as frankly most are dire and who really fancies Scrooge? Actually the only one I like is the Muppets’ <span style="font-style:italic;">Christmas Carol</span> with Michael Caine but that’s partly because I have a thing about Gonzo who plays Dickens.<br /><br />I have also only listed those you can get on freeview channels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 24 December</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dangerous Liaisons (1988)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">21.05 ITV3</span><br /><br />Ok – not 19th century but John Malkovich makes a sinister Valmont.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 25 December</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicholas Nickleby (2002)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">20.00 BBC2</span><br /><br />Did not get great reviews but contains almost every British actor and worth a watch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bootsandbonnets.com/uploaded_images/dracula_marc_warren_203x152-795521.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://www.bootsandbonnets.com/uploaded_images/dracula_marc_warren_203x152-788268.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thursday 28 December<br />Dracula: New TV adaptation<br />BBC1 21.00</span><br /><br />The only exciting new costume drama on - not convinced by the idea of Marc Warren as Dracula, though this brooding picture is persuading me otherwise. I suddenly have an urge to play <span style="font-style: italic;">Bela Legosi's Dead</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday 29 December</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Railway Children</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">12.35 ITV1</span><br /><br />Yes the 1970 classic – again!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bootsandbonnets.com/uploaded_images/Rickman-Sense-766279.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://www.bootsandbonnets.com/uploaded_images/Rickman-Sense-763912.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 30 December</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sense and Sensibility (1995)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">20.00 C4</span><br /><br />By far the best costume drama film on over Christmas – we just love Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon and Emma Thompson’s script is superb.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 1 January</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oliver Twist (1948)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">16.00 More4</span><br /><br />Is Alec Guinness’ Fagin Anti-Semitic? You decide. David Lean’s portrayal of grubby London has no equal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cold Comfort Farm (1995)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">22.00 BBC4</span><br /><br />Ok, again not 19th century but this adaptation is fantastic and Stephen Fry is great in it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 2 January</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Expectations (1946)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">12.50 BBC2</span><br /><br />The David Lean classic – absolutely atmospheric.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 3 January</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">19.30 BBC2</span><br /><br />Rupert Everett and Colin Firth star – so good and the plot is like Frasier (actually that should be the other way round).Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00786464571473280898noreply@blogger.com