Bleak House (1959 TV serial)

*Bleak House*
Bleak House
Genre	Serial drama
Based on	Bleak House; by Charles Dickens
Written by	Constance Cox
Starring	Diana Fairfax; Andrew Cruickshank; Colin Jeavons
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	11
Production
Producer	Eric Tayler
Running time	30 minutes
Production company	BBC
Original release
Release	16 October –; 25 December 1959

Bleak House is the first BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1853 novel of the same name.^[1] It was adapted by Constance Cox as an eleven-part series of half-hour episodes first transmitted from 16 October 1959.^[2] Unlike most television series of the 1950s, the complete serial survived and, in 2017, was released to DVD by Simply Media.^[3]

Cast

Andrew Cruickshank as John Jarndyce
Diana Fairfax as Esther Summerson
Colin Jeavons as Richard Carstone
Elizabeth Shepherd as Ada Clare
Iris Russell as Honoria, Lady Dedlock
William Mervyn as Kenge
Timothy Bateson as William Guppy
Wilfrid Brambell as Krook
John Phillips as Mr. Tulkinghorn
David Horne as Sir Leicester Dedlock
Richard Pearson as Inspector Bucket
Malcolm Knight as Jo
Eileen Draycott as Mrs. Rouncewell
Jerome Willis as Allan Woodcourt
Michael Aldridge as Mr. George
Nora Nicholson as Miss Flite
Leslie French as Mr. Snagsby
Aubrey Woods as Tony Jobling
Annette Carell as Mlle. Hortense
Angela Crow as Charley

Archive Status

All episodes were originally either broadcast live or recorded on 405 line black and white videotapes, with 35mm film inserts for exterior scenes. Although the original recordings for the studio and location work no longer exist, the series was telerecorded, and 16mm film copies have survived intact. At one point during one of the later episodes, an insect can be seen on the screen, having crawled across it during the recording. As the error was unavoidable, no copy of the episode without an insect on the screen exists.

Critical reception

On the series DVD release, Archive Television Musings wrote "Lacking the visual sweep of the later adaptations, this version of Bleak House has to stand or fall on the quality of its actors. Luckily, there's very little to complain about here. There are some fine central performances – Fairfax, Cruickshank and Jeavons especially – whilst...there's strength in depth from the supporting players with Timothy Bateson standing out. Another strong early BBC Dickens serial, Bleak House comes warmly recommended.^[4]