North and South Review
20 January 2013
Well, well, well…. This review is going to be a tough one. After watching all four hours of it last night, I can safely say that I have just
discovered one of my very favourite period dramas, and one of my very favourite period drama heros.
A lot of PD fans have given glowing reports of this period drama and I’ve wanted to get my hands on a copy of the DVD for a while,
but I couldn’t find one within my meagre budget, so I had to satisfy myself with all four episodes available on YouTube.
(for all of you fellow cheap-skates, here are the links to the four episodes:
Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16eQrydz4L8&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1
Episode 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBVlaofNc0w&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1
Episode 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX63AN5ViA4&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa1BsOayheg&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1 )
Oh, and have a box of tissues at hand… I cried like a baby. :)
SYNOPSIS
discovered one of my very favourite period dramas, and one of my very favourite period drama heros.
A lot of PD fans have given glowing reports of this period drama and I’ve wanted to get my hands on a copy of the DVD for a while,
but I couldn’t find one within my meagre budget, so I had to satisfy myself with all four episodes available on YouTube.
(for all of you fellow cheap-skates, here are the links to the four episodes:
Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16eQrydz4L8&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1
Episode 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBVlaofNc0w&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1
Episode 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX63AN5ViA4&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa1BsOayheg&list=WL8BAEA6E9910D14C1 )
Oh, and have a box of tissues at hand… I cried like a baby. :)
SYNOPSIS
North & South is a British television drama serial, produced by the BBC and originally broadcast in four episodes on BBC One in November and December 2004. It follows the story of Margaret Hale, a young woman from southern England who has to move to the North after her father decides to leave the clergy. The family struggles to adjust itself to the industrial town's customs, especially after meeting the Thorntons, a proud family of cotton mill owners who seem to despise their social inferiors. The story explores the issues of class and gender, as Margaret's sympathy for the town mill workers conflicts with her growing attraction to John Thornton.
SCENERY
The scenery of Milton was dark, dull, and dreary. To make it worse, practically every costume was it’s equal of dark and dreary.
But, that is to be expected of a mill town. I can blame my love for mill-town fiction on Tracie Peterson. I am glad to have seen the dinginess of these towns, and the inside of the factories. North and South very clearly portrayed the truth of these places, but
it portrayed it with heart.
SCENERY
The scenery of Milton was dark, dull, and dreary. To make it worse, practically every costume was it’s equal of dark and dreary.
But, that is to be expected of a mill town. I can blame my love for mill-town fiction on Tracie Peterson. I am glad to have seen the dinginess of these towns, and the inside of the factories. North and South very clearly portrayed the truth of these places, but
it portrayed it with heart.
The occasional break to Helston and London were very refreshing, colourwise. The gardens and pretty wallpapers brought a breath of fresh air from the darkness of Milton.
STORY
This story centres around Margaret Hale and her parents; leaving their parsonage in a lovely town in Southern England, they settle in Milton, a northern mill town. Margaret struggles to learn the ways of
the North as she starts to see both sides of mills. She befriends some of the mill workers and also comes into regular contact with Mr. Thornton, owner of one of the mills. At first she finds him heartless and cruel because of his treatment of his mill workers. But as she gets to know him, the ways of the North, and the conditions of his mill she learns he is not as heartless as she first thought he was.
This story centres around Margaret Hale and her parents; leaving their parsonage in a lovely town in Southern England, they settle in Milton, a northern mill town. Margaret struggles to learn the ways of
the North as she starts to see both sides of mills. She befriends some of the mill workers and also comes into regular contact with Mr. Thornton, owner of one of the mills. At first she finds him heartless and cruel because of his treatment of his mill workers. But as she gets to know him, the ways of the North, and the conditions of his mill she learns he is not as heartless as she first thought he was.
CHARACTERS
The main female character is Margaret Hale. She is played by Daniela Denby-Ashe. Margaret is a very passionate young lady who is shocked with the conditions of the mill workers in her acquaintance. Mr. Thornton is a pupil of her father, she completely misjudges him and has constant opportunity to butt heads with him over the treatment of the workers. After a drawn-out strike and riot from the under-paid workers, she has a chance to see a side of him that she refused to consider before. Margaret suffers a great deal of heartache throughout the story, and learns to see life without rose-tinted glasses. Spoiler Margaret struggles to gain her footing after the death of both of her parents, but it is through their deaths, and the eventual death of her guardian, that she ends up an heiress and is able to save Mr. Thornton’s mill End of Spoiler
The main female character is Margaret Hale. She is played by Daniela Denby-Ashe. Margaret is a very passionate young lady who is shocked with the conditions of the mill workers in her acquaintance. Mr. Thornton is a pupil of her father, she completely misjudges him and has constant opportunity to butt heads with him over the treatment of the workers. After a drawn-out strike and riot from the under-paid workers, she has a chance to see a side of him that she refused to consider before. Margaret suffers a great deal of heartache throughout the story, and learns to see life without rose-tinted glasses. Spoiler Margaret struggles to gain her footing after the death of both of her parents, but it is through their deaths, and the eventual death of her guardian, that she ends up an heiress and is able to save Mr. Thornton’s mill End of Spoiler
This period drama hero, John Thornton, is played by Richard Armitage. The first time we see him, it is not under pleasant circumstances, and immediately you have the same opinion of him as Margaret does, “Ugh, what a horrid man!” But as you learn the reasons behind his actions you see that he is not quite as bad as you had imagined. John Thornton is a man with a fiery temper, quick tongue, and a head for business. This is all Margaret sees of him at first and considers him without feeling. The story progresses and we find out that he is in danger of losing the mill, and thus his strict treatment of his workers is actually a concern for his mill, and the people who work in it. After getting to know Margaret better, he applies a little of her heart into his business and sees different results.
Margaret’s parents, Richard and Maria Hale, were played by Tim Piggot-Smith and Lesley Manville. Mr. Hale was the vicar of their southern home
town. He took his family and moved north because he could not agree with his superiors. Turning to teaching as his income, he takes on John Thornton as a pupil. Mrs. Hale is a dispirited woman after their move to dreary Milton. However, her love for her daughter is quite sweet. Spoiler After learning that her mother is dying, Margaret writes to her brother – who is hiding from the law in Spain. He comes to visit them and is present when Mrs. Hale passes away. End of Spoiler |
John Thornton’s mother, Hannah Thornton, was played by Sinead Cusack. She is described as ‘the old dragon’, and I think that we would agree with the workers who call her that! Mrs. Thornton loves her son’s mill about as much as he does, and her harsh Northern way is something that Margaret struggles to adjust to. The relationship between Mrs. Thornton and her son is very dear. They are each other’s confidantes and friends. If only all mother/son relationships could be this way!
Fanny Thornton – Mr. Thornton’s sister – is played by Jo Joyner. She’s quite the senseless, vain, prattling daughter you would expect of a rich family. One moment she seems to be conversing well with Margaret, then behind her back she disdains her to the rest of her family, much to Mr. Thornton’s chagrin.
Nicholas Higgins and his daughters, Bessie and Mary, were played by Brendon Coyle, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Kay Lyon, respectively. Margaret befriends this family and learns the ways of Northern mills through the circumstances that befalls them. Nicholas is a Union-man and encourages the other workers from the surrounding mills to stick together on their strike. He is furious when the strike is broken by a riot, and stubbornly continues on his strike, until he ‘adopts’ 6 orphaned children. Now he is forced to lower his pride and go to Mr. Thornton to ask for a job. This relationship is an interesting one, showing Nicholas the other side to masters and showing John Thornton another side to mill workers.
It is Bessie that is Margaret’s particular friend. Margaret learns a lot about the North and the conditions of the workers from her regular visits with Bessie. Spoiler Bessie’s death is one of the most emotional scenes in this movie. She was such a vibrant person, even when she knew she was dying. End of Spoiler
It is Bessie that is Margaret’s particular friend. Margaret learns a lot about the North and the conditions of the workers from her regular visits with Bessie. Spoiler Bessie’s death is one of the most emotional scenes in this movie. She was such a vibrant person, even when she knew she was dying. End of Spoiler
The Hale’s maid, Dixon, is played by Pauline Quirke. She is rather outspoken in her opinion of the family’s move to Milton. She loves the Hale family, and Mrs. Hale in particular, very passionately, and would defend them to her dying breath.
COSTUMES/HAIRSTYLES
The clothing of the people of Milton is about as dark and dull as the town itself. Most of Margaret’s outfits are quite pretty and some of her clothes give a break in the dullness of Milton. Mrs. Thornton only seems to wear black, while her daughter Fanny does wear brighter colours that reflect her ‘affluent’ lifestyle and vain personality. Although I love the bright colourful costumes of period dramas, this is one where I can tolerate the absence of them. It wouldn’t be a mill-town and express the essence of the place if everyone was dressed in cheerful colours.
The hairstyles were very plainly done, except by Fanny Thornton – of course. No extravagant hats or wigs – which, again, would be out of place in Milton.
The clothing of the people of Milton is about as dark and dull as the town itself. Most of Margaret’s outfits are quite pretty and some of her clothes give a break in the dullness of Milton. Mrs. Thornton only seems to wear black, while her daughter Fanny does wear brighter colours that reflect her ‘affluent’ lifestyle and vain personality. Although I love the bright colourful costumes of period dramas, this is one where I can tolerate the absence of them. It wouldn’t be a mill-town and express the essence of the place if everyone was dressed in cheerful colours.
The hairstyles were very plainly done, except by Fanny Thornton – of course. No extravagant hats or wigs – which, again, would be out of place in Milton.
RATING
Between 1 and 5, I would give this period drama a 5. :)
I’m not sure exactly what the rating for this movie is, but because of some rioting and corpses, I would recommend this movie for people over 10-12 year olds. Also there is a maturity needed to understand certain things about the lifestyle of the workers that would make me recommend this for ‘older’ children.
See my posters available for sale from this period drama
Between 1 and 5, I would give this period drama a 5. :)
I’m not sure exactly what the rating for this movie is, but because of some rioting and corpses, I would recommend this movie for people over 10-12 year olds. Also there is a maturity needed to understand certain things about the lifestyle of the workers that would make me recommend this for ‘older’ children.
See my posters available for sale from this period drama