Jamaica Inn (1983 TV series)
| Jamaica Inn | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by |
Derek Marlowe (screenplay) Daphne Du Maurier (novel) |
| Directed by | Lawrence Gordon Clark |
| Starring |
Jane Seymour Patrick McGoohan Trevor Eve |
| Music by | Francis Shaw |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Peter Graham Scott |
| Editor(s) | Geoff Shepherd |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV (HTV West) |
| Original release | 1983 |
Jamaica Inn is a 1983 British television miniseries adapted from the novel Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier. It is a gothic period piece of piracy, smuggling and murder set in northeastern Cornwall, England in the early 19th century and stars Jane Seymour, Patrick McGoohan and Trevor Eve. It was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark.
The production is set in Cornwall, England in the early 19th century, centered on a free house, 'Jamaica Inn' in Bodman Moor near modern Bolventor.
When her seafaring husband dies in the destruction of his sailing ship by wreckers on the Cornish coast in the early 1800s, the shock causes Martha Yellan’s mental health to deteriorate. She plans to send her daughter Mary to stay with Martha’s sister Patience. Shortly thereafter, Martha dies. Mary leaves her home town of Helston. Patience has married Joss Merlyn, the innkeeper of Jamaica Inn, located on a lonely stretch of road in Bodmin Moor. Mary quickly finds out that Patience lives in fear of her husband, who turns violent when drunk and whose regular guests include ruffians and criminals. She also discovers that illegal activity is going on, with goods loaded on wagons at night. Her uncle threatens one of his consorts, who may later have been killed based on a conversation Mary overhears between her uncle and someone who may be the leader of the criminal gang.
When a wagon transporting prisoners scheduled for execution suffers a breakdown near the inn, a young man helps the prisoners escape. Mary notices this but conceals it from the guards. He eventually turns out to be Jem, Joss’ younger brother, a horse thief.
Later, when she takes a walk over the moor, Mary encounters the vicar of Altarnun, the reverend Francis Davey, who escorts her back to the inn. Visiting him later at his church she finds out that he is much interested in local lore and mythology. Mary confides in him what she has learned of illegal activity at the inn. However, she only later learns the whole truth about their wrecking activity when her uncle confesses to it in a drunken stupor.
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