Impressions of The Wingless Bird, An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving and Regency House Party
The Wingless Bird 1997
Adapted from: the novel by Catherine Cookson
Length: 180 min
Summary: On the eve of World War I, Agnes Conway manages both the business and the problems of her troubled family. She helps her sister marry a good boy from a lowly dockside family, but class barriers really trouble her when gentleman Charles Farrier starts courting Agnes.
Familiar faces: Claire Skinner (S&S 2008) and Julian Wadham
Watch this if:
- You like or think about trying Catherine Cookson adaptations, this is one of my favourites and less over the top than some of them (admittedly) are
- You like the theme of romances breaking class barriers
- You like strong female characters, Agnes Conway can absolutely be counted among those!
Don't watch this if:
- You've seen enough of WWI horrors after Downton Abbey series 2
Best part: The acting of Claire Skinner, she is really an underappreciated actress IMO
An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving 2008
Adapted from: a short story by Louisa May Alcott
Length: 90 minutes
Summary: Taking place just after the Civil War, the Bassett family is empoverished after the death of their husband and father. Mathilda, the eldest daughter of the family, takes it upon herself to write to her maternal grandmother, a rich widow. Mother and grandmother have not seen each other since the daughter choose to marry the stablehand. When grandmother Isabelle turns up and bonds with her grandchildren, is it possible to put the past to rest?
Familiar faces: Tatiana Maslany (Mary in The Nativity)
Watch this if:
- You like Little Women. This is just as sweet a story of warm family relationships
Don't watch this if:
- It's the middle of the summer. This really is a story to watch on a cold and windy evening!
Best part: The scenes in the snowy landscape are beautiful.
Regency House Party 2004
Adapted from: no adaptation, but a historical real-life documentary
Length: 480 min
Summary: Five single 21th century women and 5 single men gather together to spend their summer Regency style. A house party is hosted as the upper class would do in Regency times and the modern participants have to get used to class distinction, differences between the sexes and lack of hygiene and privacy.
Familiar faces: No actors but ordinary people. Richard E. Grant does the voice over.
Watch this if:
- You're interested in the Regency period, you will learn many interesting and unexpected facts about this era
- You want to appreciate how much equality and independence we as women have gained since the Regency period ;-)
Don't watch this if:
- You're more interested in historical facts than the romances of the modern participants
Best part: Seeing the gentlemen get better and better in riding their horse during the series ;-)