A Woman of Substance (miniseries)

A Woman Of Substance
British DVD cover from 2003
Genre	Drama
Written by	Barbara Taylor Bradford (novel) Lee Langley (screenplay)
Directed by	Don Sharp
Starring	Jenny Seagrove Deborah Kerr Barry Bostwick Liam Neeson
Composer(s)	Nigel Hess
Country of origin	United Kingdom United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	3
Production
Producer(s)	Diane Baker
Location(s)	Yorkshire and London
Cinematography	Ernest Vincze
Editor(s)	Teddy Darvas
Running time	290 mins
Production company(s)	Portman-Artemis
Release
Original network	Channel 4 (UK) Operation Prime Time (USA)
Picture format	4:3 (colour film)
Audio format	Mono
Original release	2–4 January 1985 (UK)
Chronology
Followed by	Hold the Dream

A Woman of Substance is a British-American three-part television miniseries, produced in 1984. It is based on the 1979 novel A Woman of Substance by the author Barbara Taylor Bradford.

In 1970, Emma Harte is a wealthy, formidable businesswoman. Just about to turn 80, she has spent her life making a vast empire, including the world-famous Harte's Department Store in London, as well as extensive holdings in property and oil. While on a business trip to Texas with her grandchild, Paula, Emma informs her that she will be her successor.

On their arrival back in London, Emma learns that her two sons (Kit and Robin) are plotting behind her back to force her to retire so that they can break up her empire and sell it off. Devastated but determined, Emma changes her will, choosing to leave her business interests to her grandchildren instead.

The story then goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, when Emma was a teenager and working as a servant at Fairley Hall in rural Yorkshire. Her father, Jack, and two brothers, Winston and Frank, also work for the Fairley family, who own several local businesses including a mill and a brickyard. After the death of their mother, Winston joins the navy. Meanwhile, Emma becomes romantically involved with the Fairley's younger son, Edwin, but when she becomes pregnant, Edwin is horrified and refuses to marry her. Wanting to begin a new life for herself and her unborn child, Emma moves to Leeds on the advice of her friend, Shane "Blackie" O'Neill, an Irish navvy who works as a chimney sweep at Fairley Hall. To protect herself and her child from the stigma of an illegitimate birth, Emma tells her landlady and new friends that she is married to a sailor currently away at sea.

While looking for work, Emma meets Abraham Kallinski, a Jew whom she rescues from an anti-Semitic attack by local youths. Abraham introduces Emma to his wife, Janessa, and grown sons, David and Victor. When Emma tells them she is looking for work, Abraham immediately offers her a job in his textile factory.

As the birth of her baby approaches, Blackie arranges for Emma to meet another friend of his, Laura Spencer. They become good friends and Emma moves into Laura's house, and also starts a new job at Thompson's Mill. Some time later, Emma gives birth to a daughter and names her Edwina. As Emma needs to work to support them, her cousin Freda takes Edwina. After a year of working at two jobs, Emma makes enough money to rent a shop in Armley, in which she sells fabrics, clothing, and luxury food goods. This shop is a success and Emma's business expands to two shops, then three. Not expecting to see the Fairleys, she is horrified when Edwin's vile brother Gerald visits. He has found her after seeing she worked at Thompsons' Mill, now owned by his father. He tells her that Edwin will soon be engaged and demands she tell him where the child is. Emma refuses and after a violent confrontation, Emma realizes she needs someone to protect her. Worried that Gerald will return, she marries her landlord, Joe Lowther. Soon after their marriage, they have a son named Kit.