There is no country with a richer literary history than England. There is also no country that does a better job of transferring its great works of literature to the screen. Of all of England's great authors none transfers to the screen better than Charles Dickens. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that this 2005 version of Bleak House is as good as TV gets. This multi-hour TV drama that appeared on Masterpiece Theater is a masterpiece from beginning to end. Much of the American commentary on this program has concentrated on the lone American in the cast, Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock. Yes, she gives a bravura performance, but so does everyone else in the cast. It is unfair to single out individuals from such a great company, but I particularly loved Pauline Collins as Miss Flite and Burn Gorman as the aptly named Mr. Guppy. Also, Charles Dance as Mr. Talkinghorn is one of the most despicable villains in screen history. The atmosphere is so rich it feels as if one is right there in 1850's London. If one doesn't like this landmark drama then one had better stick to watching professional wrestling.
Review of Bleak House
