I've indicated there may be spoilers,just to be safe,but these are drawing room intrigues set during the Edwardian era(I think)written by Henry James who I have never read,but he seems to rival Jane Austen for insights into the English ruling class and those below.Very entertaining with top notch English actors,these can be enjoyed even today,for their rich use of language and costume and even some Hitchcockian twist endings. Someone has already listed Volume Two of the DVD set so I'll go through Volume One.
Catherine (with Lynn Farleigh and Ian Ogilvy) based on "Washington Square" Many viewers will immediately recognize the similarities between this and the classic The Heiress with Olivia De Havilland,although the ending is different.A plain society woman (nothing plain about Lynn Farleigh,even though she tries)attracts the attention of a handsome rogue.Her father threatens to disinherit her.
Adela (with Anna Calder-Marshall) based on "The Marriages" A daughter schemes to keep her idyllic home life intact by derailing her father's wedding plans.
Miss Tita (with Margaret Tyzack )based on "The Aspen Papers" A scholar seeks love letters written by a famous writer to a reclusive woman.He seeks the aide of her assistant who falls in love with him.
Grace (with Diana Rigg ) based on "Covering End" An impoverished aristocrat is faced with a daunting choice to save the family estate until an American woman (Dame Diana Rigg)shows up.
Milly (with Rosalind Ayers) based on "Wings of a Dove" A socialite schemes to raise her boyfriend's fortune by foisting him on a terminally ill American woman.Although Rosalind Ayers does a magnificent acting job as the American,Lois Baxter's beauty charm's us so much,we find it hard to picture her as the Devil's Advocate.Had the roles been reversed,we may have been more able to denounce the machinations of the Katy Croy character.
Flora (with Gayle Hunnicutt) based on "Glasses" A vain but very beautiful woman hides a secret that may destroy her.
Mary & Louisa (with Pamela Brown and Faith Brock)based on "The Tone of Time & The Real Thing" Two women vie for a painting of a former lover.
Catherine (with Lynn Farleigh and Ian Ogilvy) based on "Washington Square" Many viewers will immediately recognize the similarities between this and the classic The Heiress with Olivia De Havilland,although the ending is different.A plain society woman (nothing plain about Lynn Farleigh,even though she tries)attracts the attention of a handsome rogue.Her father threatens to disinherit her.
Adela (with Anna Calder-Marshall) based on "The Marriages" A daughter schemes to keep her idyllic home life intact by derailing her father's wedding plans.
Miss Tita (with Margaret Tyzack )based on "The Aspen Papers" A scholar seeks love letters written by a famous writer to a reclusive woman.He seeks the aide of her assistant who falls in love with him.
Grace (with Diana Rigg ) based on "Covering End" An impoverished aristocrat is faced with a daunting choice to save the family estate until an American woman (Dame Diana Rigg)shows up.
Milly (with Rosalind Ayers) based on "Wings of a Dove" A socialite schemes to raise her boyfriend's fortune by foisting him on a terminally ill American woman.Although Rosalind Ayers does a magnificent acting job as the American,Lois Baxter's beauty charm's us so much,we find it hard to picture her as the Devil's Advocate.Had the roles been reversed,we may have been more able to denounce the machinations of the Katy Croy character.
Flora (with Gayle Hunnicutt) based on "Glasses" A vain but very beautiful woman hides a secret that may destroy her.
Mary & Louisa (with Pamela Brown and Faith Brock)based on "The Tone of Time & The Real Thing" Two women vie for a painting of a former lover.